It’s National Tree Week this week. Every year since 1975 National Tree Week has marked the start of the winter tree planting season with a programme of events – that cannot happen this year because of Covid but there’s lots happening on line.
Here at Logie trees are a major part of our lives. Moray, in the days when counties still existed, was the most wooded county in Scotland in relation to its size. That means we have a lot of experience in growing trees as well as a hugely varied mosaic of trees of all types.
There are champion specimens of their species, rare and interesting plant and tree communities, particularly on the river banks, and commercial plantations producing timber for our own sawmill, other mills and an energy efficient biomass plant which heats Logie Steading and the surrounding houses.
As you walk along the river paths keep your eyes open for some of the features which make trees, where they grow and what can be done with them, so special. There is something about the river valley – probably a combination of fertile soils and damp conditions – that seems to “draw” up the trees.
On an old 1775 map the bank behind the Steading is marked as “Wet Spoutie Brea” – ideal for growing trees.