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Scotland's Native Trees and Shrubs
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Beech is not strictly native to Scotland, however, it makes a significant contribution to the character and wellbeing of the lowlands and Scottish Borders. |
What does and what does not constitute native status?
Any guidance aimed at increasing the use of native species must first address this keenly debated topic. In the context of the Scottish Executive's landscape policy only two categories of tree or shrub species are recognised, namely native and non-native.
Native trees are those that 'colonised the British Isles by natural means, often a long time ago' ('The New Flora of the British Isles'). 'Long ago' generally refers to the period of time immediately following the retreat of the last Ice Age some 8,000 years ago. For the purpose of Scottish Executive landscape policy the list of native species set out by the Forestry Commission in 'Bulletin 112: Creating New Native Woodlands' has been adopted.
Notes: 1. Beech ( Fagus sylvatica), hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus), dogwood ( Cornus sanguinea), field maple ( Acer campestre) and wayfaring tree ( Viburnum lantana) although not strictly native to Scotland, have been included because of their importance to Scottish landscape character. 2. Gorse ( Ulex europaeus) despite its value as a habitat for insects and birds, and broom ( Cytisus scoparius) have been excluded because the Scottish Executive policy prohibits the sowing or planting of gorse and broom on account of their invasive characteristics as well as their tendency to catch fire and to encourage rabbits. If they are growing naturally in the vicinity of a road landscape and are consequently right for the area they will inevitably invade the site before long. In this event they are only removed to prevent them becoming a nuisance. 3. Other localised Scottish native species such as the dwarf birch ( Betula nana) the Service tree peculiar to Arran ( Sorbus pseudofennica), rock whitebeam ( Sorbus rupicola) and several dwarf willow species have not been included because of their rarity and general unsuitability for planting schemes.
Non-native (synonymous with alien) species have been introduced to the UK, either deliberately or accidentally by humans.
Between these two extreme categories, native and non-native, there are a number of intermediate scenarios that make hard and fast classification difficult. Academic debate about the intermediate categories is not important in the context of Scottish Executive landscape policy.
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