The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13

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Autumn 4 The Nature of Scotland
1 Wild calendar 1 Autumn colours come from the breakdown of starches to sugars and other compounds in leaves. Isn't organic chemistry beautiful? Kenny Taylor gives some seasonal tips for savouring Scottish wildlife and landscapes Perhaps you can't name a precise date when autumn begins, when the swallows have gone and the evenings darken. But you'll sense it in the air, as flocks of birds swirl in from across the seas; as birches, aspens and rowans spark a thousand shades of fire in native woods; as the hills ring with the roaring of red deer stags. Days are shorter now, but the pleasures of the Scottish scene can be all the sweeter. Small wonders Mention autumn colours, and most people will think of broadleaved trees. But focus only on trees and you could miss a forest of other possibilities at a much smaller scale. Look down, below knee height, and choose contrasting locations to savour the breadth of autumn colours. In a native pinewood, such as the ones that skirt the Cairngorm Mountains in both Deeside and Strathspey, look for dwarf shrubs. Blaeberry plants here drop their leaves for winter. They turn many tints of scarlet before they fall. On saltmarshes, such as those that flank many parts of Scotland's firths, look for the blobby, semi-transparent stems of glasswort. These too can flush with autumn tints. Out on the hills, stems of deer grass can look superb in October and November, each tussock a freeze-framed explosion of firework gold. And if you're really lucky, you might find some dwarf willows on a mountainside, leaves turning tawny on stems that barely rise to your ankle. Broadleaves, Jim, but not as you've known them... Web tip: www.mountainwoodlands.org www.snh.gov.uk 5
Page 1: Scottish Natural Heritage Autumn 20
Page 4 and 5: Credits The Nature of Scotland The
Page 8 and 9: 2 The art of love In autumn, it's n
Page 10 and 11: 1 The power of natural play 8 The N
Page 12 and 13: value of smaller scale, loose, natu
Page 14 and 15: 7 8 If you go down to the woods Nat
Page 16 and 17: People of all backgrounds and circu
Page 18 and 19: Personal stories On the edge of Dun
Page 20 and 21: NEWS Dolly scientist working on clo
Page 22 and 23: NEWS Greater protection for shark,
Page 24 and 25: NEWS Extra rangers help capercailli
Page 26 and 27: Inspired by nature 1 As usual, we r
Page 28 and 29: In our third article to mark the 20
Page 30 and 31: 3 Floating homes Office workers wel
Page 32 and 33: Dualchas coitcheann Common heritage
Page 34 and 35: Supporting sporting interests 32 Th
Page 36 and 37: 2 Bad press Promoting country sport
Page 38 and 39: Reserve focus Visit the Clyde Valle
Page 40 and 41: 24 2 1 Cartland Bridge Start from t
Page 42 and 43: 7 7 There are good numbers of badge
Page 44 and 45: SNH Area News Northern Isles and No
Page 46 and 47: SNH Area News Strathclyde and Ayrsh
Page 48 and 49: Events diary 2011 October Friday 7
Page 50 and 51: Hare’s-tail cotton grass, Uath Lo
Page 52 and 53: Bruce Percy 1 Coming from an arts b
Page 54 and 55: Lorne Gill Lorne is the full-time p
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Sandra Bartocha Sandra is a German
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1 interested to learn about some of
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1 Red kites are good for business.
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“The project to reintroduce red k
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www.snh.gov.uk
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The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13

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The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13