The forest died out through clearing (several hunderd years ago, the entire area was originally covered trees) and deer eating it. Then, as a result the 'soil' became too acidic and too wet for much else to get a hold,the result is the peat bogs and heather moorlands you see today. There is a school of ecology that actually beleives that woodland is not the top level of ecology, ie. what will happen if there is no management of the land, but that peat bogs and heather moorlands are... From my experience, I tend to agree with that school of thought. It is clear that woodland can not be (and has not been) sucessfully reintroduced to this environment without significant 'management'. The Scottish forestry plantations show this exceptioannly well. If the outer trees fall, great swaths will also go with them - and it takes a lot of drainage and management to sustain woodland there.
As you can see, most of the area is peat bog and heather moorland and pretty unpassable. You can't easily get to the mountain in the background from where the photo was taken, you need one of those - forgotten what they are called - cross between a quad bike and a boat and has about 12 wheels... There are a few tracks that have been floated across or keep to where the rocks are very closelto the surface, but other than that, it needs to be completely and totally frozen to get to that mountain from this side...
thanks
Emma |
United Kingdom
Lone Tree (130) *
Aramok
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