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Scotland's Native Trees and Shrubs
Introduction
This guide is the latest in a series of publications by the Scottish Executive Development Department aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of road landscapes, their design and long term management. The series grew out of a joint initiative by road authorities in Scotland. HRH The Prince of Wales endorsed the initiative at a national seminar in Dundee in 1992 entitled 'Roads, Bridges and Traffic in the Countryside'.
From 'Leasachadh' by Anne C Frater
'Cost Effective Landscape: Learning from Nature' (CEL:LFN) was published in 1998. It sets out the Scottish Executive's landscape design and management policy. Response to this publication was so positive that the Scottish Executive Development Department (SEDD), responsible for the series, was encouraged to commission work to develop the policy further, focusing on Scotland's native trees and shrubs.
For many people, Scotland is its landscape. Mountains, lochs and glens, rocky shores, islands and sandy beaches are never far from lowland fields, towns and woodlands. Scottish culture embraces such visions of landscape in its literature and music and visual arts. Extensive use is made of these and other images in, for instance, the promotion of the tourist and whisky industries.
This publication aims to inspire, inform and educate landscape designers and clients alike of the ecological importance and aesthetic potential of using native trees and shrubs in this landscape. It is hoped that it will also encourage landscape designers to learn more about our native species, to develop a deeper relationship with them, explore new ideas and derive more enjoyment from the design process. Although the guide is primarily written for those involved with road landscape in Scotland, in keeping with CEL:LFN, it has a wider application and gives general guidance for the use of native trees and shrubs.
A conscious effort is made to steer clear of the big black holes that can appear during academic debate in relation to native species and the complex ecological theories of succession, equilibrium and inter-dependence of species in the context of landscape design. There is an understandable tendency among landscape professionals to question the validity of theories that are not supported by sound research. This design guide does not reject such a cautious approach. Rather, it aims to encourage a more positive outcome by encouraging ecologists, landscape designers and managers to work closely together and build upon each other's area of expertise focusing especially on observations and practical experience of landscape design and construction using native trees and shrubs. Observations and outcomes may be fully understood by ecologists or they might highlight the need for further research. Either way, a fuller understanding will lead to the better selection, use and procurement of our tree and shrubs.
Any publication aiming to be of practical use needs firstly to set out the historic context without which any analysis of landscape design in Scotland would be incomplete. The keenly debated topic of what does and what does not constitute native status is clarified in the context of Scottish Executive landscape policy. The reasons for, and benefits of, native species are explained. This is followed by guidance and advice relating to selecting the best species for the purpose and to buying native trees (with special reference to genetic origin often referred to as provenance) and finally some suggestions are made as to how to design ecologically rich and visually interesting semi-natural landscapes.
The Scottish Executive welcomes comments about the views expressed in this publication, particularly from those involved in the theory and practice of road landscape, but also from anyone involved in planting native trees or looking after Scotland's countryside. Ongoing monitoring of the series will continue, with a view to commissioning further research, technical support and updating guidelines as appropriate.
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