PICTURES: Assynt wych elm trees celebrated at latest awareness-raising event
Another event has been held as part of an ongoing project to raise awareness of endangered wych elm trees in Assynt.
Entitled ‘The Ecology of Elm’, the one and a half hour session took place in Culag Woods, Lochinver, on Thursday, November 28.
It follows on from a wych elm photography workshop held earlier this year and a wych elm sapling planting session.
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Project to raise awareness of Assynt’s endangered wych elm trees
Present were Dr Mandy Haggith of the Culag Community Woodland Trust, nature artist Lynn Bennett-Mackenzie, and Andy Summers, High Life Highland senior countryside ranger.
Dr Haggith said afterwards: “It was a lovely event. The weather was kind to us and we had a good turnout.
“We began with the children telling all the grown-ups things they had found out about the elm tree.
“I think the highlight was when we all stood in a big circle and measured the size of the canopy of the huge elm tree, which is 15 metres across and covers 165 square metres, and realised how big its root system must be beneath our feet.
“Then, with Andy's help, we identified lots of mosses, lichens, ferns and liverworts under this huge canopy, giving us a real sense of it as a temperate rainforest tree.
“And Lynn helped us to draw and make structures using parts of the tree, leaves, twigs and lichens.
“I think a good time was had by all.”
The project’s next event will take place at Glencanisp on Saturday, December 14, from 9am-4pm when anyone interested is invited to join woodworker Chris Goodman and Fritha West, an elm researcher from St Andrews University, to make charcoal and talk about how to protect the Assynt wych elms from Dutch elm disease.
The event is free and open to everyone; drop by or come for the whole time.
