This Forgotten Tree is Rewilding Scotland - here’s how

[@michaelogle1315]

In North America, we are finding that Aspen which are declining for many reasons are invigorated if there is a wolf population to keep herbivories especially Wapiti from grazing the young trees. Whole ecosystems revolve around the plant including woodpeckers & owls which use their nesting cavities. Tourism, not normally thought of as wildlife friendly is also enhanced in the autumn with everyone enjoying the colors.

[@LeaveCurious]

Yes you have some fantastic Aspen in North America & it’s interesting to know that the wolves play a key role in its health. I’d certainly visit in the autumn!!

[@richardcowley4087]

@@LeaveCurious what utter nonsense

[@LeaveCurious]

@@richardcowley4087 what’s nonsensical about this Richard?

[@richardcowley4087]

@@LeaveCurious You are making unfounded claims learn to tell the truth

[@mikaeelmalik1724]

@@richardcowley4087 so are you saying north America doesn't have nice aspen or that he wouldn't visit?

[@MossyEarth]

Excellent video Rob! We really appreciate the shout-out and look forward to working with you on many videos in the future! :)

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

It seem that the two rewilding and nature conservation projects channel finally meet. I would watch a coopération between the two. Like a video on river rewilding (fishes beaver, amphibian, dam etc) with both channel that start or show a project on that.

[@LeaveCurious]

You’re welcome, always happy to shed some light the brilliant work that you do! Here’s to more videos!!

[@LeaveCurious]

@@deinsilverdrac8695 watch this space ! :)

[@LeaveCurious]

@@TubeMeisterJC let’s just hope there’s no interbreeding, creating… Leave Earth 😮… lol you can expect some collaborations between us :) great comment!

[@jacobturman5602]

This relationship is beautiful

[@drrd4127]

I grew up in rural Scotland and I remember going out in summer and lying on the ground just listening to the Aspen leaves, its so windy in Scotland that the leaves sound like musical instruments, it's a beautiful and relaxing sound.

[@isabelc.m9593]

it's called quaking sound :)

[@Top1_Banana]

It warms my heart to see this project doing amazing work, how the aspen and beaver has been reintroduced, and hoping this will be part of nature that will flourish for generations ahead.

[@LeaveCurious]

I’m super interested to see how the beaver interacts with aspen! Cheers! 🌿

[@glenncordova4027]

I think Aspen and beavers are mutually dependent on each other. Aspen are fast growing and delicious to beavers. Beavers impound water in streams and rivers creating moist soil which Aspen like. Beavers cut trees close to the ground. Aspen regenerate from the roots so culling from the beavers encourages Aspen to multiply and spread.

[@richardcowley4087]

utter bullshit

[@philipsq6848]

The north of British Columbia has an absolutely huge number of Aspen. It is good to know that it's being replanted in Scotland.

[@chrissaltmarsh6777]

There are two tall lime trees I see outside the kitchen window; and a continually changing joy they are. This smack in Edinburgh Newtown - so this tale touches my heart. From redwoods to oaks, I've always loved trees. Thanks for this.

[@LeaveCurious]

Also nice to have some trees to admire from the window, cheers Chris!

[@stuff8119]

Lime trees? May I ask where? I'm moving to Bonnigton soon so would love to photograph the tree!

[@chrissaltmarsh6777]

@@stuff8119 Behind Broughton Street, to the east. There used to be three, but one was taken down because of a wound in it which was becoming a danger.

[@infraredthomas]

Thanks for the informative video - I didn't know of the Aspen's significance. I first learned about "rewilding" a few years back in Scotland - when I helped plant native species trees in a nature preserve. Now I'm doing the same locally where I live.

[@LeaveCurious]

Awesome - keep up the good work!

[@kloewe6069]

Here from your work with Mossy Earth, love love love your channel!! Thank you so much for all the work you do, helping our Mother Earth 🙏💗🌎✨

[@kloewe6069]

Also interesting to think about, that point of the tree having been called "old Wives tongue" or whatever it was, how misogyny and hatred or abuse towards was paired in hand with the destruction of Mother Earth- the positioning of men as representing "male Sky god who gives dominion OVER Earth" and women as such "lowly" Earth. All of these destructive aspects of dominant human culture intersect and support each other.

[@LeaveCurious]

Hey, welcome and thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it :) yeah, it’s all about respect to all life. It’s the only way we can move forward!

[@robertwhite9621]

Lovely video, thanks for uploading. I'm really interested in rewilding and recently became a member of Mossy Earth before finding your channel so was very happy to to see the crossover!

[@LeaveCurious]

You’re welcome Robert, yes there’ll be more cross pollination, as we like to call it, moving forward! Cheers!

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

It's a really nice and important species we planted one for my brother as a memorial.

[@LeaveCurious]

Thats beautiful! Thanks for sharing, I should of brought one back for the garden!

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

@@LeaveCurious yeah haha they grow quite easily from cuttings i think. You do get them occasionally in England

[@waynemcleod6767]

The Aspen is a keystone tree species. Underappreciated for sure. I have a few stands of wild Aspen and Red Willow that are a habitat for a variety of other species of plant, fungi, insect and animal types. A walk through the stands can readily reveal this. Keep up the great work of reestablishing this important tree.

[@LeaveCurious]

Yes I think it is a little unknown! Awesome Wayne!

[@friedeseimitdiroxmox4669]

Aspen, ... in my Area around Lüneburg we have a lot of these kind, called Pappel oder Zitterpappel. They are the first trees amongst birches and willows who appear naturally on unused land.

[@LeaveCurious]

I like to say pappel oder zitterpappel out loud lol yes they are all colonisers

[@carolinejayes157]

Great project plant more trees ,!Also love to see the scots pine ,and sturdy oak ,beech ,yew to create new habitats for insects ,and birds.!

[@LeaveCurious]

Some of my favourite trees you've listed there Caroline!

[@matthewdavies5875]

Another great video Rob, I always leave not only curious but having learned something interesting. Keep up the good work and thank you for the shout out!

[@LeaveCurious]

Ahh cheers Matthew, can say the same for the Mossy Earth videos 👌 Keep up the great work!

[@louislamonte334]

Thrilled to see this happening!! Thanks for your consistently excellent videos!!

[@LeaveCurious]

Me too, it’s brilliant work. Thank you for always leaving encouraging comments!

[@louislamonte334]

@@LeaveCurious My pleasure, my friend!! I love Scotland! I'm a bagpiper!! Have an excellent weekend my friend!!

[@christofthedead]

awesome video & impressive production quality! was a heart warming surprise to hear you challenge the misogyny present in the folklore & mythology surrounding the tree you earned a sub

[@LeaveCurious]

Thank you and welcome!

[@jonjames7328]

Challenge misogyny of folklore? Give it rest.

[@christofthedead]

@@jonjames7328 do you not enjoy poking fun at the silliness of old timey people? to such an extreme degree that you'd like to take that enjoyment away from others?🧐

[@christophemartens3499]

I have a few aspen in my natural reserve in the belgian Ardennes. What a nice noice their leaves make when some air passes through and what a beautiful yellow they offer us in the automn....

[@isabelc.m9593]

I fell in love with them in the US. They are now one of my favourite trees. I live in Portugal now and miss them so much

[@paulcox8671]

Not only are they beautiful, but such an interesting tree species

[@LeaveCurious]

I could of listen to Peter talk for hours about the Aspen! Thanks Paul 🌿

[@ronward3949]

Browsers, goats, deer, can be heavy, thick jawed, and quite powerful in their incising cut or movement, ripping out these younger shoots. Beavers, indeed, do this, but there are few examples of them over harvesting territory, and young do usually move on after a year or so.

[@JHattsy]

Pretty neat to hear him mention using gentech in dundee, my home town!

[@LeaveCurious]

Awesome!!

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Yes Gentec have been a great partner.😊

[@double531]

Beautiful spot next to the river Calder in Lochwinnoch, watched Kingfishers and Nuthatch at that very location.

[@LeaveCurious]

It is a pretty spot!

[@MrWilliamlynch1984]

Planted 20 Aspen last winter. Beautiful native tree. Hopefully I'll get double the amount into the ground this winter.

[@LeaveCurious]

Awesome Will, yeah I suspect you will once they begin to sucker

[@IbexWatcher]

Love to see the regeneration effort! I remember reading a research paper a few years ago that found a relationship between the number of chromosomes and the size of an aspen clone; diploid aspens tended to be small stands, whereas giant stands like the famous Pando clone in Utah were triploid. I wonder if that will prove true in Scotland as well, and what impact that might have on regeneration areas

[@LeaveCurious]

Thats really interesting Benjamin! Something to ask Peter about on a future visit!

[@lindaj5492]

@@LeaveCurious You could ask Peter by email - quicker if it’s an important question!

[@deanfirnatine7814]

I love the orange leaf variety in the Fall in the mountains

[@LeaveCurious]

Beautiful, where are you based?

[@ManoloElCerdo]

I'm doing a species distribution model, and I've seen most of your videos while I wait for it to run (it's been over 8 hours)

[@LeaveCurious]

Wow, thanks for consuming content. Since you’ve seen a lot, what’s your feedback? What would you like to see more of and what can be better?

[@markthompson180]

From West VA in the US: glad to see that Scotland is resurrecting the aspen before it goes extinct there.

[@gilesbinyon]

Excellent work Rob. 😊👍

[@LeaveCurious]

Cheers Giles appreciate it :) 🌿

[@EK1626]

Love to hear this is being done in Scotland. Western Canada forest needs to diversify their forest as well. I was out west 4 yrs ago in the fall and you could see very little of these beautiful coloured stands in the forests.

[@DuartedeZ]

What an excellent video! Well do Rob :)

[@LeaveCurious]

Cheers big D!!!

[@michaelhutchinson1713]

New today. Love your enthusiasm¡!

[@LeaveCurious]

Welcome Michael and thank you!

[@etherospike3936]

In North America, more exactly in Colorado, there is a forest formed of only one individual aspen tree, all of the trunks being part of the same root system! It is also the biggest organism in the world, or the second after the humungus fungus, which is a mushroom that spreads on the land of three U.S. states , correct me if i'm wrong but I think it spreads from Oregon to Washington and Idaho .

[@LeaveCurious]

All sounds spot on to me - the historic aspen stand is known as Pando!

[@jamesalexander3893]

I have aspens literally growing like weeds in my garden - because the roots of established trees throw up new shoots. A few comments on here are missing the point about the aspen cloning - that's how the main way they reproduce in the wild.

[@LeaveCurious]

Yes exactly!

[@lordhellsreach3552]

Nice really enjoyed that hope to see more replanting videos as for bigger species to return the base needs to be there.

[@LeaveCurious]

Yes I'm interested to see how the Beaver uses the Aspen as it becomes more widespread! Cheers!

[@michaelogle1315]

@@LeaveCurious Starting an Aspen stand is very difficult with Beavers present, their normal behavior is to eat everything & then move on. This is not conducive for starting a fresh stand. We usually have to put wire mesh around trees or they will be fallen.

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Spot on increase the habitat.

[@partidaportet27]

Aspen is a super tree. Full of excellent properties useful for humans. Makes awesome compost too

[@LeaveCurious]

I didn't know about the use of compost, thats really cool!

[@partidaportet27]

Yeah it's really fungal. We had a few piles and added Aspen Bark, the results where really impressive. The piles are literally covered in little fruiting bodies already. It is my understanding, and you may well know better, that Aspen acts as a chelation agent. Ergo I propose any compost made using material from Aspen would have excellent mineral retention and be very bio active for other plants. Perhaps this is a character of pioneer trees and perhaps what may make them successful as founding species??

[@jasonking6892]

Interesting video 👍🇬🇧

[@JakobFischer60]

In Germany we say, someone is shivering like "aspen leafs". That is all I know about them.

[@LeaveCurious]

It never seems to be a good connotation! Cheers Jakob!

[@Kurthoolio]

You can tell it’s an Aspen because of the way it is. How neat is that?

[@LeaveCurious]

Thats neat alright...

[@Kurthoolio]

For the uninitiated: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp6We6Kad7dgrNU ;)

[@knuckledraggingneanderthal720]

Had a lone Aspen in the midst of a meadow. I wanted to maintain the meadow so I would brush hog cut the goldenrod and grasses every couple year. After neglecting to mow for four or five years there were hundreds of Aspens sprouting a few feet tall pioneering the meadow around the original tree. I'm looking forward to seeing how this island of Aspen will grow in another ten years. We will see if the beaver nearby will utilize these trees.

[@LeaveCurious]

This is really cool, Aspen playing its role as coloniser! Let me know what wildlife does come use the area!

[@richardcowley4087]

in the usa ! not in Scotland no one "brush hog's" anything here in Britain

[@carthkaras6449]

I dont know if I heard peter correctly but he said "trembling leaves" and in french this tree is called le tremble.

[@LeaveCurious]

Yes he did! Le tremble!!

[@charlieneilson1239]

Great video. Very interesting. Thank you.

[@LeaveCurious]

You're welcome Charlie, thank you!

[@sguy3552]

I’m learning and I feel inspired so Thanks for the content!

[@LeaveCurious]

You're welcome, pleased you're enjoying it :)

[@ronward3949]

Overgrazing is possible, happened in Yellowstone with loss of most predators and no hunting priorities. Basically, overgrazed or browsed, microsite, best possible planting spots. Other thoughts Aspen will tend to grow fairly quickly if well rooted, slow growth can better establish young trees as shade and other variable assist outgrowing older plants and young trees might dry out. Surviving in riparian zones or right on the edge of the creek, river, or lake means wet rooting area can be facilitated, yet here sometimes browsers might overgraze. Insects are needed for pollination which should not be absent as so many Insects do utilize pollen and stigma. Do not agree on Cloning techniques but hey.

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Cloning was required as there were only 12 clones in 240 km square. They are pollinated by wind, not insects.

[@ronward3949]

@josephgreenlees3639 Sorry if I was incorrect on insect pollination, thought ant Species, Beatles, or leaf eaters, shredders or otherwise might help facilitate pollination.

[@ronward3949]

@josephgreenlees3639 Realize clones are not necessarily a bad thing as most of the stands may be from various cloak or underground roots going vertical shoots which then may become new leaders instigating new saplings.

[@ronward3949]

Overgrazing is supplemented because throughout highly grazed herded animals tend to spend the hottest time of the area absorbed in cool areas, so watering holes can be prioritized and animal stay near water without being moved by predators, herdspeople, or possibly other guide animals. Priority being do not allow over-browsing really. Young shoots and trees well be selected, larger shoots do amount to higher survivorship.

[@manuq9827]

Big fan of all your work! I live in Glasgow and I was wondering if you needed any help as volunteers. I work out regularly and can carry weight too :)

[@LeaveCurious]

Hey thank you! Get in contact with eadha- linked the description:)

[@choccyfrolick]

It's a beautiful tree. My question is, I thought reforesting efforts in Scotland were concentrating on planting native trees, is Aspen considered a native species? Are there any problems associated with It's introduction, or only benefits 🤔 ?

[@LeaveCurious]

Aspen is native and I can't think of a single issue - it's a great tree for depleted landscapes

[@lindaj5492]

I’d wondered the same: your video says it’s a pioneer species, but doesn’t mention whether it’s native to British Isles.

[@olddogoddments675]

It's native. Here on Skye it survives where sheep couldn't get it. I see them clinging to sea cliffs and on steep bits around burns (streams, to non-Scots). They're there, waiting to spread out again if sheep are reduced in number (unless the ever increasing numbers of deer get them). But they're so fragmented the spread would be by suckering only. It would be a strategic move to plant, with protection from grazers, single male trees near a female relict stand and vice versa (and then to eat a lot of venison).

[@drrd4127]

​​@@lindaj5492 In restoration a Prioneer species is a species that grows well and fast on bare land therefore establishing the new restored area by protecting other seedlings that want to grow from the wind, rain and predators. Basically, a species that establishes the population and allows other species to grow. Think of each new bare patch of land being colonised. Yeah, invasive species is the word for non-native.

[@Anyreck]

​@@drrd4127In South Africa we use the term 'alien' plant for non native species. Most aliens are invasive here, but not all.

[@paulochon7692]

So.. doesn't this tree have some lack of genetic diversity in Scotland ? Could it be a problem in the future, especially with this cloning technique or will genetic diversity increase naturally ?

[@LeaveCurious]

It’s not a problem in the same way it would be for an animal. However, you would simply lose the uniqueness that comes with each individual. This can be the times it comes into leaf, the colours, or perhaps tolerance to certain diseases.

[@alanjameson8664]

As I understand it, they are introducing greater genetic diversity than is naturally typical of aspens.

[@josephgreenlees3639]

The point is to increase the genetic diversity. The largest planting Eadha has been involved with is 75,000 trees from 60 clones in Glen Trool. We would hope that this acts as a future seed source.

[@dirtroadsandwoodstoves]

Great stuff. The cloning aspect gives me pause, but I'm not informed enough to give it a yay or nay. As for the rewinding g thru tree species, crucial.

[@LeaveCurious]

Thank you Stephen! Aspen clone naturally - its their main form of reproduction, suckering from the roots. So cloning them via a lab process its just ensuring that more Aspen are out in the countryside, so they can do what they naturally do.

[@geordiemack4143]

Aspen smells amazing too. My mum used to put Aspen essential oil in burners around the house at Christmas time in the mid 90s. Tried getting some myself recently and it doesn't appear to be available anywhere. Am assuming it's no longer viable as would need a lot of tree for not much oil?

[@LeaveCurious]

Hmm I want more woody oils scenting my house... I honestly do not know how much oil you get from a single Aspen - found this for you www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1032453587/aspen-tree-bark-oil

[@Alexm0321]

You can tell that it’s an aspen because of the way it is

[@LeaveCurious]

eyyyy, you're not the first to that one I'm afraid

[@Alexm0321]

@@LeaveCurious damn next time then

[@hunterhq295]

Any updates on some of these places now and how they are doing in the present? I feel Amazon can use support next.

[@LeaveCurious]

Check out Mossy Earths Aspen projects, there'll be a new video from them this autumn on their aspen projects.

[@hunterhq295]

@@LeaveCurious Nice, Am curious Any future plans for Amazon?

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Eadha planted our 1 millionth tree in May 2021

[@roilevi7381]

Scotland need to bring back wolves bear and linxs.

[@LeaveCurious]

They do indeed, I can’t wait for the Lynx!

[@doughvictor2893]

Trossachs

[@tatradak]

If your going to do that then you need other foods like wild boar, beaver, otters and grown other food like crab apple, Rowen, sort the burns out, stock them with trout etc etc you have to give them easy food otherwise the animals come into the inby land and eat the lambs and sheep, cause huge damage to assets etc hope you academics are thinking about all of this...personally I agree, it would be great to see this...

[@robharshman2366]

What amazing work! Keep it up!!!

[@LeaveCurious]

Thank you, I will do!

[@RayRoss-g2z]

I planted 2 Aspen about 20 years ago and am happily harvesting the sucker plants to repopulate them in my area of Kerry in the south west of Ireland. The bark of my trees and those that I have found in the wild have rather grey bark as opposed to the photos I have seen of the Aspen growing in the US which seem to have very white bark. Is this a different species or is it something to do with their habitat?

[@davidlittle7182]

where's the link to supporting Peter? I missed it

[@LeaveCurious]

www.eadha.co.uk/how_you_can_help

[@davidlittle7182]

@@LeaveCurious many thanks!

[@UltimateDelivery]

You can tell this is an Aspen because of the way it is. #neat

[@LeaveCurious]

hahah nice.

[@jackcocker545]

Since the roe deer rut is underway you should do a video on facts about them, they're a lot more interesting than people realise

[@LeaveCurious]

They are fascinating & all too often get a bad rep in rewilding britian, which is undeserved! Cheers Jack

[@billsmith5109]

Keep up the good work. The vehement reaction implies you are being effective. To be attacked as akin to G. Monbiot - quite the compliment, although I hope you aren’t offended if I say few will have either his compendium of facts at hand or his analytic abilities. I wonder how many hours a week he spends in study? I did listen a second time. I never found a clip in which you claim aspen used to be the predominant tree across significant areas of Scotland. The pollen record seems to imply that might have been a better description birch. Add willow, and you have a beaver buffet.

[@LeaveCurious]

George speaks with great passion, plus the man's a literal sponge for knowledge! Appreciate the thoughtful words Bill, cheers

[@josephgreenlees3639]

It seems aspen pollen does not last long in cores etc.

[@marianfrances4959]

Awesome!👍🇨🇦😎

[@LeaveCurious]

It really is! :) Cheers!

[@ronward3949]

Wet soils can be easier to pull weeds in right.

[@hotelsierra86]

Where can I obtain aspen? Have tried and failed so far.

[@LeaveCurious]

Contact Peter at Eadha - I think with one of the membership packages you get set a couple!

[@tatradak]

On the croft wr have 1000's you can have them for free its a weed....

[@Hansulf]

Populus tremula. Tremula meaning whispers or low sounds.

[@lawn38]

Just subscribed and liked! 😃

[@c.i.demann3069]

Pretty weird that they're growing aspens in a laboratory from leaf cuttings, because... why? Greenhouses work. Seedlings work. What problem are they solving?

[@LeaveCurious]

Its reliable - at this stage that's what Aspen requires!

[@got2kittys]

I have seen the systems for plant cell clones. 1000's of plants can be started in a small room, and eventually get put in a greenhouse or nursery. It's like doing cuttings, but on a very small scale. Aspen seldom make viable seed.

[@c.i.demann3069]

@@got2kittys perfect answer. thanks!

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Our early plantings are starting to flower and we do intend to start using seed.

[@forbesmeek6304]

Getting viable seed I think is a problem.?

[@Tsass0]

By 'Aspen', do u mean a poplar?

[@LeaveCurious]

Populus tremula / Aspen !

[@pauls3204]

Bought one from my local garden centre 4 years ago 30 feet tall

[@LeaveCurious]

Impressive!!

[@pauls3204]

@@LeaveCurious the cost was ! It was £250

[@glps6167]

Can you supply a list of the species related to Aspen ?

[@LeaveCurious]

well theres lots of other types of aspen - the one found in scotland is treumla, but theres many more populus species and birch is quite similar too.

[@glps6167]

@@LeaveCurious You got me wrong, I did not ask for a list of aspen species, but for a list of insect/fungus species depending on/ in an interrelation with Aspen. I believe you referred to about 100 such species.

[@josephgreenlees3639]

You want the Haglow PDF from the Aspen Conference Boat of Garten, Scotland 2008. John Parrot formerly of Highland Aspen Group is a main author

[@mrgreeneggs6191]

what does the pollen record suggest was growing in scottland during the neolithic?

[@LeaveCurious]

Good question - i think birch, aspen, pine, hazel, oak.. naming a few. Do you know?

[@carlodegrote9524]

nice!!!

[@LeaveCurious]

Cheers!!!!

[@tomkeal78]

“This is an Aspen, you can tell it’s a Aspen because of the way it is”.

[@markdoty1213]

I believe that one of the reasons wolfs we're reintroduced in all the wilderness was to keep deer from eating all tree siblings.

[@LeaveCurious]

Yes apex apredators like a wolf can have that affect - Scotland ness a whole lot less free-roaming grazing sheep/deer & little more natural predators!

[@paraglenner]

Let's put them in Edinburgh and Glasgow first then.

[@shawnohagan5503]

Great video

[@LeaveCurious]

Cheers Shawn, appreciate that 🤙🌿

[@davidbryden7904]

It's ironic that aspen is making a comeback in Scotland whilst dying out in Colorado ! 👽💚🌲🤙🤟🥂🌏☮️

[@LeaveCurious]

What are the main pressures to colorado aspen?

[@davidbryden7904]

@@LeaveCurious fire, drought and climate change

[@gernotzemanek853]

Aspen does produce seed, this spring I collected near 20,000,000 at 93% germination rate.......

[@LeaveCurious]

That’s awesome! It’s been a good year due to the weather! Where are you?

[@gernotzemanek853]

@@LeaveCurious Canim Lake, near 100 Mile House, British Columbia. Aspen was collected for carbon purposes and fire breaks. Yes last year's heat dome has done much towards this year being a banner year for many species conifer and deciduous alike.

[@josephgreenlees3639]

You are lucky, very little seed production currently in Scotland😢

[@alst4817]

Why does Aspen grow so rare now? Ash is the predominant colonising species in many parts of the uk.

[@blank.9301]

Let's use ecosia 👍🌱🌳

[@LeaveCurious]

Easy step that we can take!

[@raphlvlogs271]

a poplar that mimics birch

[@LeaveCurious]

Pretty accurate description :)

[@rickb3078]

Billy Connolly?

[@stuearth5076]

Super interesting, I never knew that about the reproduction of Aspen. Is there an issue with using clones and leaving the forests susceptible to disease if there is no genetic diversity in the species? Or do they clone and plant from different genetic stocks to give diversity?

[@LeaveCurious]

They find as many local Scottish Aspen as possible - these are trees which have managed to hold on despite the pressures they face. Perhaps they've faced pests and diseases and stood the test of time. They are after all the remnants remaining... But I think generally no, so along as the climate stays kind to the Aspen, they will do well due to how prolific they are at colonising bare ground.

[@stuearth5076]

@@LeaveCurious yeah I guess the remaining ones are naturally selected.

[@LeaveCurious]

@@stuearth5076 still an interstring question though, one to ask Peter

[@josephgreenlees3639]

At Eadha we have collected over 450 clones from all over the West Coast and Islands of Scotland. 28 from Arran, 6 from Bute, 2 from Millport.

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Each planting area will have at least 30 different clones.

[@anudhadutta9708]

Try the "Pani Project" for reforestation. It is amazing changes seen within a month!

[@LeaveCurious]

I'll check it out, cheers :)

[@samdumaquis2033]

Great!

[@LeaveCurious]

:)

[@johnnynephrite6147]

I think ultimately we all have a background in trees.

[@LeaveCurious]

Yeah I think that’s true, have you worked with trees at all?

[@johnnynephrite6147]

@@LeaveCurious Im an evolutionary biologist.

[@Le_Blnk____]

Do this live in temperate country?

[@LeaveCurious]

Yeah, can grow in a range of climates

[@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey]

Are clones fertile, then?

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Had some flowers so far but only male. Trees for Life are doing great work with clones in a seed orchard.

[@niklar55]

TREES, the lungs of the planet! .

[@LeaveCurious]

They certainly are!!

[@niklar55]

@@LeaveCurious Yet they are being destroyed at an unprecedented rate, worldwide, both by natural causes, and by human predation. .

[@oliviapeel8558]

🌳 ❤️

[@LeaveCurious]

:).

[@yoyoyuyu234476]

I dont understand. You seem to show usa aspen, but the european species is a different one. What populus species are you talking about?

[@ezforsaken]

The problem when you clone everything is that a single evolutionary challenge wipes out the species. The doc can pick a sturdy gene sample, but maybe in 300 years a new tree disease comes along and kills 99% of Aspens because that original specimen was weak to it. This is why we need genetic diversity in plants, cloning is easy for mass production and creates safe yields, but in the long run it's not a good practice, if there were very different genes across the forest then some will die to blights and some not.

[@josephgreenlees3639]

You are right and that is why seed is the end goal of Eadha. Many of our trees were geographically isolated and have little hope of reproducing. We are simply acting as a dating agency.

[@helensteen3664]

Leave the Old Caledonian Pinewoods alone! 'One cannot expand or restore natural woodland by unnatural methods. The government’s statutory advisers SNH, the FC and Cairngorms National Park Authority approved Abernethy planting. A common error is that Old Caledonian pinewoods should contain more broadleaved trees such as birch and aspen. The FC demand at least 15 per cent broad-leaved when grant-aiding planted pinewoods'. Adam Watson May 2014

[@LeaveCurious]

Are you saying not to plant the aspen in caledonian pinewoods? I think the majority of the Aspen is going into particularly barren areas.

[@tatradak]

At last someone I can agree with why aspen, its a weed , why not silver birch

[@tatradak]

@@LeaveCurious Why plant this weed , plant silver birch a way better tree and belongs here, come to the croft , its evasive weed that has little to no value at all, very happy to debate it with you.

[@LeaveCurious]

@@tatradak what are we debating, why plant Aspen or Aspen v Silver Birch? Either way there are numerous reasons why Aspen is a useful tree, a fact recongised by the FCS funding the project to restore it featured in the video - but most notablty, to a depleted scottish landscape its aspens ability to colonise quickly, providing soil neutralisation, top-soil creation, riverbank/slope stabilisation, palatability for grazers as part of wood pasture, or more natural setting along rivers for beavers and of course because they spring back from the roots - these are just the ecological and environmental benefits - it can be used in the remediation of contaminated land, its a fantastic energy biomass crop - i could go on and I'm not an expert in Aspen. But the key to it all of this, to getting the most out of any tree, is knowing where this tree is most useful, playing to its strengths .

[@helensteen3664]

@@LeaveCurious I am saying not to plant anything in the old caledonian pinewoods. Hands off and let them regenerate. The RSPB in cahoots with SNH (as was), HC & FCS are responsible for breaking the chain of evolution of the caledonian pines woods at Abernethy thereby destroying their natural heritage in the name of climate change mitigation and biodiversity enhancement. According to their website they aim (ed) to plant 100,000 trees in the reserve including Aspen, Willow and Alder. I have nothing against Aspen per se but against the irresponsible, irreversible destruction of Scotlands natural heritage.

[@thorium222]

Planting is all good and well but what about fencing? Otherwise the sheep will just eat them again, would have liked to now what they do about this.

[@LeaveCurious]

Fences, plastic tree guards etc are not ideal when you're trying to naturalise a landscape - so one approach has been to plant the Aspen adjacent to thorny, less palatable species - the idea is that these plants shield them from the grazers. Its how Oak trees naturally establish within scrubland, jays stash the acorns within the hawthorn & they grow with the protection. I think in some cases, there is an argument for fencing, but its not solving the route cause, which is the overgrazing itself. If that's solved, natural regeneration will flourish along with any planting schemes.

[@thorium222]

@@LeaveCurious Thanks.

[@tatradak]

Sheep don't touch Aspen its like poison to them...

[@tatradak]

@@LeaveCurious The over grazing isn't done by sheep but deer, but this is because the Millburn isn't done any more so fresh grass is not now being grown...so now mid summer the deer come down to the inby land and eat the hay that the sheep should have for the winter, but I have to guess you don't want sheep or cattle any more??

[@PeasantByTheSouthernSea]

Cloning in a lab and "rewilding" don't seem to fit together. I wonder what the downstream effect will be

[@LeaveCurious]

remember rewilding can arrive in many forms - given how few Aspen there are they weren't naturally regenerating so I think the approach is justified

[@SnowTroII]

🌳🍂

[@husch05]

Populus Tremula = Eurasian Aspen Populus Tremuloides = American Aspen

[@LeaveCurious]

Nice :)

[@Bob_Adkins]

Beavers and landscapes aside, I can't think of another thing the aspen is good for. It's a small tree and has no fruit or nuts. It will grow where many trees cannot, so maybe that's the main attraction.

[@LeaveCurious]

Some additional uses from Eadha website Biomass energy crop (SRC/SRF) Riverbank and soil/slope Stabilisation Contaminated Land Remediation (Phytoremediation) Soil neutralisation and topsoil creation Nurse Crop Wood Pasture Fibreboards and fine paper making Superior source for nano-cyrstalline cellulose Check out the website, is got really in-depth info - you’ll find link in description of video :)

[@Bob_Adkins]

@@LeaveCuriousThanks!

[@josephgreenlees3639]

Arrow shafts, canoes, oars, matches, fruit and cheese boxes, pizza oven wood, highest quality paper, saunas, slope stabilisation, phytoremediation, nano crystalline board for computing and you can mix it 50/50 with flour to bulk out bread.

[@Bob_Adkins]

@@josephgreenlees3639 Yeah, pretty much a niche tree. There's almost no demand for the wood, and it won't grow in many places in my country.

[@josephgreenlees8277]

@@Bob_Adkins internal building timber, MDF and fibre board, animal bedding. Estonia has a 150 million Euro plant solely processing Aspen, hardly niche.

[@mamamoo3974]

Interesting video not a tree I knew about

[@LeaveCurious]

no it's quite rare now!

[@tatradak]

We have heaps around the croft..not a big fan, way better is silver birch, cutting all ours down and replacing with silver birch....why because in the wind the limbs easily break off, never repair itself, hates being trimmed, very evasive, poor and weak roots....timber is rubbish where silver birch is very high quality...sorry by why????

[@LeaveCurious]

I guess it all depends on what you want from your trees!

[@josephgreenlees3639]

The timber has many uses as does birch. Aspen is used for pizza ovens as it burns fast and hot.

[@johnfrancis4401]

Stop sheep and deer eating the young trees by constructing sheep & deer proof fences

[@LeaveCurious]

Would you put that around sheep or the trees?

[@johnfrancis4401]

@@LeaveCurious Round the trees. But of such a construction that they can be removed easily once the trees get tall enough - ie moved on to protect other saplings 🤣

[@LeaveCurious]

@@johnfrancis4401 makes sense, interesting idea 💡

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

One thousandth like 😃

[@LeaveCurious]

eyyyyy nicee :)

[@oudaak1]

4:27 i dont like that.. :/

[@raptorkravmaga9977]

🥇🥇👍👍

[@LeaveCurious]

:) :)