Talla and Gameshope II

The freezing night gave way to a gloriously sunny day. After breakfast in Gameshope bothy, my student, her friend and I continued planting trees in the Borders Forest Trust's Talla and Gameshope estate. Although the trees are tiny, see extra, by planting the right species in the right ground conditions at the right altitude and protecting them from voles, there is hope that our small mixed oak-birch-willow woodland will contribute to the rewilding of the estate.

The photo above was taken when I climbed to the top of the ridge of the valley and looked out over the other side. Topographically they are beautiful rolling hills, but grazing by sheep means that they are an ecological disaster area. Rewilding, by removing the economically unviable sheep and appropriate planting of trees, will restore the lost ecosystems. I'll not live to see it, but will work to see the process start.