Why We Are Bringing Back the Lost Aspen Forests of Scotland

Aspen is a keystone species that unfortunately has become quite rare in the UK. In this video we explore why this is the case and what we might be doing to help improve the situation.
🍂 Read more about our Aspen Project: mossy.earth/projects/rewildin...
🙌 Subscribe to Mossy Earth: kzbin.info?...
START REWILDING OUR PLANET TODAY
===============================
With us, you will restore nature and fight climate change every month
🌲 Plant native trees to capture carbon
🐺 Rewild habitats to support biodiversity
🐉 Support underfunded species and ecosystems
Learn more and become a member here: mossy.earth
🗳 Vote for non-members: • Post
⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 Intro
0:51 The Aspen
5:19 Our project and plans for the future
😅 CORRECTIONS
===============================
- There is another native poplar in Scotland, the Black Poplar (Populus nigra).
- We've been informed there is another species which supports more species than the Aspen. The Pedunculate oak or English oak (Quercus robur). Which incidentally, we also plant of course :)
🔎 ABOUT THIS PROJECT
===============================
Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula) is a keystone species that is largely missing from Scottish woodlands today. In Europe, its often found alongside birch, rowan, willow, and alder in the broadleaf component of northern coniferous forests. Together, they can occupy around 15-20% of the forest. In Scotland, aspen mostly exists as small, isolated fragments often consisting of single relict trees. To restore the natural diversity of the native pinewoods and return aspen to the landscape, we are embarking on a long-term project to plant and support the natural regeneration of aspen trees in Scotland.
Thank you to you all, for making our work possible!
- The team at Mossy Earth

[@MossyEarth]

🌳If you would like to become a member and support this kind of work please consider heading over to mossy.earth/ !

[@SaorAlba1970]

The Caledonian forest used to cover the whole of Scotland and it contained a wide variety of tree species, much of the forest was lost due to the highland clearances when half the population was driven from there ancestral homeland by the British state, as they saw the highlanders as a threat to keeping Scotland within the UK and the highlanders were replaced by sheep and much of the forest was cut down in the highlands

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Could you please make your videos louder or reduce the ads' volume?

[@b_uppy]

It likely starts with the soil. And that probably means a more rounded reintroduction of woody species, as they likely support the necessary life, so first you need to identify the 'pioneer species'for aspen instead of emphasizing thekeystone species first...

[@Brit-CK]

If you ever need another tree planter, I do very similar work to this down in Cumbria, rewilding the lake District hill sides for the national trust, I have a small amount of OCD so every tree is always perfect and can do between 500 and 1000 bare root a day depending on the ground and the weather. I'm more than happy to travel as I love Scotland and will sleep in the car if I need to 😂.

[@Maverick1.]

Absolutely STUNNING footage!

[@nk53nxg]

I am from Scotland, and lived close to the Cairngorms National Park for 20 years. I can tell you that everything you are doing along with Trees For Life and the Woodland Trust is amazing work, and without determined and driven people like yourselves our landscape would be further deeply degraded. The issues you face are not just about planting trees and herbivore control, it is to do with human psycological behaviour. Landed estates that cover vast areas of Scotland are owned by some people with little interest in its ecology or natural condition, it is kept degraded and barren for shooting field sports. Rural Scotland itself has a Victorian mind set, they do not like change, they were brought up in a heather desert, they think this is the way things should be. The issues arise when your plans and ideals clash with these shooting estates and the local rural folk that work for them. They need to be convinced that fish populations increase in numbers size and quality if riparian habitats are restored and present, they need to be convinced that lower deer density and actual natural forest cover are beneficial to bigger, stronger deer in the future. They need to be convinced that large areas of natural forest cover is far more benificial to the local economy than thousands of square miles of just heather ( heather is an important habitat too, but it is unnaturally prevalent). The rural economy is fragile and requires the support of these shooting estates, this is where the fight and heart of the problem lies. You could have expert ecologists, biologists and all the data and proof that you like, but at the end of the day if the locals and land owners do not want change or see your work as a threat then they will push back on the good work you are trying to achieve. Some estates do a good job such as Glen Tannar, Glen Feshie and Invercauld. Some native and foreign land owners are really trying to make estates sustainable and have wildlife thrive too, but too many estates are stuck in the past with raptor poisoning, stupidly high deer numbers causing shocking land degradation and other complete shitfuckery. And these bad land management estates effect the good land management estates as the deer are wild and roam freely onto other estates with better vegetation due to better hebivore control. Meaning the other better managed eststes need to increase culls costing them more money. Scotland is full of bad land management, most of Scotlands land is useless for intensive agriculture. Take community buy outs as an example in the North West Highlands, I am all for local land ownership, however the first thing they do is dump a ton of sheep on the hills to try and make an income, and who can blame them, but the sheep cause huge destruction and damage. Again these rural communities are fragile and do not have other income streams. Natural forestry does have value, but it cannot be commercially exploited and takes to long to grow and to show revenue return to the local community. This is tough, but I think common sense will prevail and you guys will win them over in the end. I think we need natural forestry on a huge scale such as birch, aspen oak, scots pine and any native species that is suited to the local conditions, but the locals need to see it bring value from sustainable timber extraction too. A varied mixed forest is better for tree disease control, not all eggs in one basket as they say, a mixed forest has biodiversity and brings recreational value along with natural beauty. Forestry plantations are ugly looking monocultures. The issues arise again when people try and commercialise the natural forest through greed as natural environments cannot take this type of intensive extraction. The war you have is with mindsets and human behaviour, the work you do is incredible and very challenging.

[@DuncanPepper]

Not sure Invercauld should be on that list. Check the raptor persecution history. Lower Glen Affric or Carrifran are more worthy contenders. You might also like to check out the work done by the common weal on the economy of grouse moors. I agree with everything else you've written though

[@nk53nxg]

@@DuncanPepper , ahhh I did not know that about Invercauld. Thats a pity, again like I say human behaviour is the main obstacle in all this. So much of our land scape would look absolutely amazing if land management was more sympathetic toward habitat restoration. To be honest I am sick of looking at the barren waste land within the lower elevations of the Highlands, this just keeps dragging on despite the evidence of better biodiversity and enrichment economically natural reforestation brings. Cheers for the reply.

[@hendryde-lux4287]

​@@DuncanPepper Agreed, the raptor persecution and illegal road creation have shown that Invercauld seems to be managed by some pretty questionable people, maybe it's different now, hopefully because it's a beautiful area

[@freeforester1717]

You’ll find that the landowner with the least regard for the natural ecosystems we all would like to see is the same one which we all bankroll through our taxes. I can show you the damage to our watercourses and here on the ground and explain the downstream impacts (literal, and financial) if you find time to look at them -over fifty watercourses emanating from one ‘Forest’ here, harming, not helping Nature. By the way, I am a riparian woodland owning, tree planting, deer managing conservationist who has campaigned against the state of State forest mismanagement for most of my forty years of adulthood. The supreme irony is that everyone want the same thing - a healthy, sustainable and vibrant ecosystem, yet we pay via our taxes for the polar opposite. Greetings from the last stronghold of the wildcat, outwith the CNP (- a place the SNH saw fit to trap pure wildcats from in order to populate their as yet unproven breeding programme, but in any event for propagation of the CNP wildcat population, not to return here…)

[@susank4878]

This reminds me that John Muir referred to sheep as "hooved locusts." If there could be a lot of publicity about how aspen can improve the salmon runs maybe the landowners might finally plant some.

[@RobbieCec]

More tree nurseries here in Scotland is a good thing 🙂

[@MossyEarth]

Indeed :) That is our thinking too - Cheers, Duarte

[@gardendeeds]

@@MossyEarth I cant wait to be part of this in the future, not just a Mossy Earth subscriber.

[@thatotherguy7596]

More tree nurseries everywhere would be a good thing. Everyone in the world should plant at least two trees where they are appropriate, and if they can afford to. Some exceptions apply. Dealer prep and options not included. See your local nursery for details. This message brought to you by an occasionally silly person 😁 🌱🌴🌲🌳 🍃

[@freeforester1717]

The Nursery at Forres (Christie Elite) is for sale now, I understand. Maybe this is an opportunity for Mossy Earth to act upon?

[@gardendeeds]

@@freeforester1717 oh man! I wish I could buy it asap, move there and make as many indigenous cuttings as possible. One day........ One day.

[@TheSuperTrickey]

What an amazing movement. As an Englishman I envy Scotland a great deal. The efforts the Scots are making to preserve the earth should be replicated and encouraged across the UK!

[@thatcanuck5670]

It's funny, you're completely right about the sound of aspen stands. I love fly fishing the streams in the foothills of the rockies, and a common feature is the rushing of aspen stands. I hope you are successful in bringing this wonderful tree back to Scotland.

[@IQzminus2]

In Sweden we have a saying that translates to ‘shaking like a aspen leaf’ (skakar som ett asplöv). It basically a way of saying that someone is really shaking a lot. It is hard to convey the sound and experience of wind blowing through aspen leaves, but it is quite unique and very noticeably different from other trees.

[@MossyEarth]

That is super interesting! Thank you for sharing :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@arnesl929]

We have the same

[@edmundprice5276]

It's also a British expression to shake like a leaf

[@stormmoster]

@@edmundprice5276 Aspen leafs shake more than ther leafs.

[@KraftBrotHD]

In German it's zittern wie espenlaub

[@braedenhallam9186]

The bright yellow amongst a muted environment is so striking and inspiring. Yes yes and more yes to a specific nursery for this species

[@dagmargross6064]

I did not know how important Aspens are for the Eco-system. I am glad I watched this video. I live in Scotland, but only in a Council flat at the moment and have no space for a tree nursery. But I hope many who do have the space will participate in this project!

[@PierroCh5]

I think investing in a nursery might be the best long-term approach, especially because it could be expanded in the coming years to grow many other species of trees and not just aspen, you'd be able to grow the trees you guys need to support your rewilding efforts (of course not all of what you need, but a good part I guess.) Now, a nursery is a lot of work and money, so it would take longer to launch than just buying trees and going planting, which will be frustrating at first, but I'm sure it'll pay off both economically and in terms of scope in the future. And who knows, maybe the only nursery specializing in aspen trees in Scotland could also generate some money by selling extra growths...

[@MossyEarth]

Great input, I didn't think of selling the Aspen as we are keen to plant it all ourselves but you make a good point. In terms of extra work, we probably would have to hire as it might be a bit much for our biologists to do full-time. We will see when we start scoping it out. - Cheers, Duarte

[@freppers2666]

I think selling trees is a great idea. May help go towards covering the overheads and would also give you a new army of people to plant trees all over Scotland - in their own gardens, streets and fields etc. Of course these wouldn’t have much impact on riparian environments, but they would increase the likelihood of aspen spreading naturally (more pollen on the wind etc) and could lead to a greater genetic diversity of aspen in Scotland, should it be affected by disease or pests. I had another thought about trees for a potential nursery. I wonder whether it might be a good idea to source aspen from the south of England (if there are any there) because these would presumably be better adapted to a warmer climate, and so would cope better in Scotland as the climate warms there.

[@pinkelephants1421]

@@MossyEarth A Mossy Earth tree nursery could also benefit from UK/Scotland/Wales Gov't grants to farmers and other landowners to plant trees under the UK's climate change net zero goals and legislation. Therefore, if you primarily focused on selling to farmers and larger landowners, such a nursery could potentially become self sustaining in its own right for many years to come.

[@richardfiennes3616]

Get Scottish schools involved in growing/planting Aspen and other species. Double whammy of kick starting interest in nature and the environment.

[@pinkelephants1421]

@@richardfiennes3616 As with anything positive, teaching the kids from an early age stands the best chance of making it stick. New Zealand started a Be a Tidy Kiwi campaign when I was 5 - (late 50's now). We were encouraged NOT to throw apple cores out of car windows, to use rubbish bins etc. My younger sister & I drove our parents NUTS with this stuff. BUT!!!! DECADES later in our early 20's we were driving somewhere in our parents car with Mum. To our complete & utter disbelief we spotted a plastic bag hanging from the air-conditioning knob of the car & Mum carefully explained how her & Dad never throw rubbish out of the car windows & ALWAYS putting their rubbish in it & chuck it out when they get home. Skinny & I HOOTED with laughter & absolutely gave her BEANS because we nagged them for [YEARS] growing up not to be litterbugs. Our parents have never lived that one down - and NEVER will. 🤣🤣🤣 To this day I regularly pick up rubbish dropped by lazy thoughtless individuals off of the street. Once picked up equivalent of TWO wheelie bin bags full in the space of an hour on the way to the supermarket & back - didn't even have to bring a bag with me to put it in as carrier bags were blowing down the street also. People laugh @ me but you only get out of society what you're prepared to put into it; what you deserve in other words. Can't complain about something if not prepared to help fix it.

[@joncawte6150]

it makes total sense to have your own aspen nursery, or any nursery for the tree species you intend to plant. For starters , it must be cheaper in the long run, given the amount you will need.

[@Spiracle]

The Hornet Moth is one of my favourite moths here in the UK, such a striking example of Batesian mimicry and one of the many nationally scarce species that could benefit from this project!

[@MossyEarth]

One day I want to see your list of favourite moths haha 😂 - Cheers, Duarte

[@bradleywoods3742]

Unfortunately they prefer the milder weather of south England, they also tend to go for black poplar but can bee seen on aspen.

[@jaredhill8721]

I think a nursery dedicated to producing rare native species for rewilding projects has great potential, anywhere in the world.

[@MossyEarth]

We think so too! - Cheers, Duarte

[@rzimmerdev]

This is in all levels abysmal. Of course the situation that makes this necessary is undoubtedly dreadful, but the work you guys have made to make this happen is otherworldly!!! Many hugs from Brazil

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Rafael! Many hugs back ! - Cheers, Duarte

[@NicholasShanks]

Support Brazilian politicians that treasure the rainforest and are opposed to illegal logging, rather than are subsidised by it!

[@TheSteve_42]

I live in Scotland and go off into the hills semi regulary and since your first video on the Aspen I have been looking for them and I only ever see them in botanic gardens. So YES to nurserys! 🌱

[@MossyEarth]

They are hard to find! - Cheers, Duarte

[@freeforester1717]

@@MossyEarth the hills are clad with non-natively cellulose crop trees such as Sitka spruce, which our wildlife cannot successfully adapt to, preferring native species which they have coexisted with for millennia, and which acidify upland headwaters to the extent that invertebrate life upon which salmonids feed upon are adversely impacted, and the acidic waters also impact negatively on other exceedingly rare and valued native species, eg freshwater mussels, Capercaillie, and many insect species. And for all of this, we the taxpaying public are obliged to pay for, the state-sponsored destruction of watershed ecosystems, whilst the proceeds and profits from these non native timbers is privatised.

[@olddogoddments675]

I lknow a couple of dozen spots on Skye with tiny relict aspen groves. They are nearly always on cliffs, not necessatrily high cliffs, maybe just little cliffs where fast streams have cut into the land. They survive there because sheep couldn't reach them' The best time to look is when the aspen leaves turn yellow. It's a particularly vivid yellow, once to know it you can spot a few aspen from miles away.

[@alexandermajor6467]

@@freeforester1717 many plantations are owned by the government through Scottish Forestry with money from these going back into payment for services. Only a percentage are in private hands. We also do need a significant amount of wood for construction projects and paper etc - if we don't use wood grown here then it will need to be imported, which has the knock on effect of carbon emissions from transportation. Sounds like you are willing to just push the problem to another country.

[@pablosaintmarr3223]

15 to 25 footers available at McLarens nursery near Johnstone. I bought four two years ago

[@nickvaden3196]

Starting an aspen nursery certainly sounds like a good idea if the expenses are covered. Best of luck!

[@MossyEarth]

Well we have to cover the expenses of course but that is how we can get things started! - Cheers, Duarte

[@user-mi6uq2oi9n]

The best way is to start your own nursery and work side by side with other nurseries in the same time, to achieve your goals. This what we did We built our own nursery specialized on propagating prosopis and acacias trees, but yet we still work with other organizations in Saudi Arabia

[@MossyEarth]

Agreed! Its all about cross-polination :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@patrickday4206]

Yes plant more plants that contain dmt! Lol

[@synappticuser7296]

Big thank you to Scotland, for reforesting, and bringing back the Aspen tree. 🌿🌳🌞😊🧡🤸

[@cornishpasty4344]

I grew up in Scotland (Scottish mother, English father) and the land is just ravaged by logging in some parts. So many landslips onto roads during the cold months as well. More trees to help reinforce soil in those key areas would be extremely helpful vs. a barren landscape.

[@CleoHarperReturns]

Just when I was worried that I was becoming too bitter from all the things wrong with this world, Mossy Earth releases a video and helps me to breathe again. There is good in this world. 💜

[@MossyEarth]

Hi Violet! We are glad to be able to push the bitterness away :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@morganegoas9081]

A nursery is quite a good ideabfor the long term and could be a good physical place to include the locals, either to inform them on the importance of the project or involving them as volunteers ! Keep up the good work

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you for the input Morgane! - Cheers, Duarte

[@slb8781]

support from South Africa!

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you! - Cheers, Duarte

[@AbhilashBingi]

Thanks for all the great work you do!

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you for the contribution! We will put it towards the Aspen project :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@felixmussik7203]

I feel supporting the existing nursery with funds, if they are willing to upscale may be better, especially since you would otherwise end up with 100+ nurseries/projects all directly managed by Mossy Earth which is not in line with your minimal headcount approach.

[@MossyEarth]

Good point! We will include it as an option in the planning. - Cheers, Duarte

[@HelenBennett57]

I was going to say the same! TfL have decades of experience in sexual and asexual aspen propagation. Helping them to scale up the nursery might benefit everyone more widely and be a more efficient use of money. (I used to volunteer with them - happy memories.) The elephant in the aspen nursery is deer. Aspen are delicious deer salad. That's why they're so rare in the overgrazed, predator-free Highlands. How are you going to keep your new plantings protected from deer?

[@Emmygedden]

For rewilding projects getting as many of the native plant nurseries to flourish has got to be a key part. They could also sell to the public these native plant options as an alternative to the mostly non-native plants at the big store chains. Then use the profit to grow the rewilding projects even more!

[@martinedmundson98]

One of my lasting memories of Aspens is from the Rocky Mountains in New Mexico in Sepember and October and New England in the winter. Whole mountain sides were yellow with Aspen and it was a wonderful sight especially when alongside were the Greens of the coniferous groves and stands. This brought back to Scotland would be a marvellous experience. Good luck with the project.

[@Maplenr]

This is by far the most important project to me. Visited the Highlands multiple times, my favorite place in the world. I hope I get to see it reforested in my lifetime

[@MossyEarth]

Working on it :D - Cheers, Duarte

[@LeaveCurious]

Having been in that very Aspen stand, you certainly captured its beauty well. Mossy Earth aspen nursery is a chonker idea.

[@MossyEarth]

Chonker indeed! - Cheers, Duarte

[@a.l.a.7847]

Love learning about this variety of Aspen tree.... I only knew about the North American quaking Aspen and didn't realize how widespread the Aspen tree varieties are and how important they are for biodiversity. Thank you.

[@MossyEarth]

Glad you learned something :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@tegerusgardens1]

It’s a great idea, self sufficiency is key!

[@MossyEarth]

Exactly! - Cheers, Duarte

[@Soken50]

I have 3 beautiful Aspens right outside my apartment window In France, they're everywhere here, I had no idea they were becoming so scarce in GB. Best of luck with this project and thank you for all the work you do to protect this planet's delicate ecosystems

[@MossyEarth]

You are lucky, the sound of the aspen in your home is a luxury in my eyes! - Cheers, Duarte

[@kevbar1505]

and those three aspens are likely the same plant having common root systems.

[@Just_stoptalking]

It makes me happy that you not only inform us of the problem but also make an effort to improve the situation through restoration

[@shawk2100]

I own, with my family, a native plant nursery in Illinois (USA) and I might recommend moving in a more cooperative manner with growing partners in the region that you’re working. Well structured contracts or partnerships for production of species with local growers means that local people take partial ownership of the project and can feed jobs into a field that really needs it. Updating growing facilities to better streamline production would be a good start for maybe a handful of growers. The video may not have shown the full setup but I thought I saw systems from Rootmaker and the use of GT 38 flats. These are widely used and would be good for Populus production. Sorry, I’m off topic. We work with the cousin species from seed on contracts for a variety of groups throughout our region and have found that these partnerships work very well as the growers focuses on what they do best and the partners take care of the things they do best. If you start a nursery in direct or indirect competition, especially a native plant nursery, you put pressure on an industry already undervalued by the larger public. Lift these growers up and showcase (like you did in this vid) their work. More growers may come along once they see that growing natives in not just for projects but can be planted in their own yards and lands. Sorry to soapbox a bit, but as a grow and lover of native species we need to support local efforts b/c once your project is done they still need to and want to contribute. Good Luck

[@DuartedeZ]

Excited to see what project we can set up. Would be really cool to properly help scale the efforts in Scotland :) Lets see what people vote!

[@davideek8248]

I've been following the rewilding movement in Scotland for years, and I was up at the Trees For Life nursery and helped out last year. I'm already planing on becoming a member of Mossy Earth in the new year, and hearing you're considering opening a Aspen nursery is incredible to hear. I hope my membership fee can help make it happen

[@MossyEarth]

Hi David! That is great to hear! Your membership will support Aspen and a wide variety of other rewilding projects. - Cheers, Duarte

[@kimberleypex]

The positive actions in this World. Nature , a green Planet✅🌳🌎

[@willbeazer9730]

There is a grove next to the tree nursery where I work with mature poplars and silver birch and the sound in the wind is sublime, it's really relaxing. My advice for protecting and getting support for this is to mix in as many varieties as possible, things like Sorbus Aucuparia and Euonymus Europeas are going to bring an abundance of colour and food for the animals, perhaps planting it on a trail that follows the river that can be walked might encourage its protection.

[@Tsuchimursu]

I love the gentle trembling whispers of aspen leaves. It's THE sound of summer to me. I've been promoting aspen growth on my own land because most consider poplers as useless trash trees...

[@MossyEarth]

Its a lovely sound! My mic did not really capture it. It is too subtle... - Cheers, Duarte

[@PaulCoxC]

Really interesting tree, and so important how connected everything is

[@MossyEarth]

Its one of those missing links :) More on this topic in the Salmon story! - Cheers, Duarte

[@Rombitekti]

I live in Finland, and Aspen is one of my favorite trees. Love the yellows as well.

[@maxpaumelle2092]

I think creating a nursery for aspens is a great idea, with time you could use this nursery for other saplings and therefore reduce the cost of all the tree planting interventions, you could even sell all the surplus for extra funding for other projects, it is a ambitious idea I am giving you but it just might make mossy earth even more incredible.

[@matthewdavies5875]

The production quality has definitely gone up a notch in this one, great work guys!

[@MossyEarth]

Thanks Matt! - Cheers, Duarte

[@simonbrown8509]

though I would suggest some attention to the sound levels, which are low

[@timozkurt7944]

Great video team. You've done a good job of explaining how aspen plays an integral part of the ecosystem. Hopefully the nursery gets up and running!

[@MossyEarth]

If the members vote for it then the ball is in our court! - Cheers, Duarte

[@verro9153]

Putting trees along the river bank also helps water sink deeper into the earth, as the roots help break up compacted dirt. This has knock on effects in drought resistance and snowpack retention. In wildfire prone areas it also helps reduce spread and increase rebounding from damaged ecosystems.

[@soulextracter]

About that leaf sound 1:53. In Sweden we have a saying. When someone is nervous we sometimes say "han darrar som ett asplöv" literally "he's trembling like an aspen leaf"

[@MossyEarth]

That is such a great expression! Thank you for sharing :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@Jack13001]

Beautiful tree. Scotland’s forest regeneration is one of the most inspiring rewilding projects I’ve seen. Forested Scottish highlands are one of the most beautiful habitats on earth imo

[@coenvantuijl3011]

Make sure to have a good plan on what you're getting yourself into. Starting a nursery also means investments in materials, caretakers etc. more costs than you'd initially expect. those costs may exceed the costs for the remaining aspen to be planted in relation to buying saplings. So I reckon it would be good to increase your goal, more aspen for Scotland, accompanied with a solid plan, and you'd find yourself with a good initiative.

[@MossyEarth]

Agreed! We will make sure to plan this properly. More info in a future video. - Cheers, Duarte

[@ronward3949]

Being a well Seasoned treeplanter myself, I know we relied on bare root trees, an in some occasions plugs, 2 yr redwood bare roots are substantial and give a great head start!

[@mdc3227]

I'm in the Tweed valley and the Aspen here are wonderful and provide a rare pop of color in the colder months. We have many Aspen stands here and in the day you can spot fly catchers, red squirrels and many other rare and wonderful species flitting between the trunks. I love this initiative.

[@Halifax888]

Having your own nursury is a good idea. You'll be independent from other nursuries, can adjust your plans to your projects and save some money, since you will have to source your resources from wild aspen at first anyways. And its fullfillng work!

[@MossyEarth]

Exactly! You summed it up well :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@k.h.6991]

Not only that, you can preserve more genetic variety in a well managed nursery, than when relying on commercial projects.

[@isaT]

The nursery is a good plan I think. It would be wonderful to see more forest and wildlife returning to Scotland.🌱🌳🦊🦅 The current landscape sure has it's own kind of beauty, but it's also really sad and empty, and not very useful to anyone except some rhich guys who like to hunt deer

[@davidbamford4721]

An aspen nursery sounds like an excellent project for your group to achieve. Certainly more trees are going to be needed for a long time, not just in Scotland but in all of the countries of Britain.

[@thaifreeburma]

Thank you for that forest ambience - in any case it was very good 🙂 And what a wonderful, holistic project

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Julian! - Cheers, Duarte

[@miumjou]

YAAAAYYYYYYY A NEW VIDEO ❤

[@MossyEarth]

Sorry for the long hiatus! We are working on more regular videos in the coming months :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@chanakasenarathna1849]

You guys are real earth heroes. Kudos for your future endeavours ❤️🙏

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you! - Cheers, Duarte

[@AshleyPaquin1]

Aspen are so gorgeous. I live in the largest Aspen grove in Colorado (in the USA) and it’s absolutely breathtaking.

[@fraseranderson7402]

Brilliant idea to start a specialised nursery. Hopefully the aspen can return to its full extent

[@BeBraveToAct]

Awesome video as usually Mossy guys ! We need more Aspens for sure! Nursery would be very good initiative

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Dima! - Cheers, Duarte

[@markeast1574]

Good to see these magnificent trees being reintroduced in Scotland

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Mark! - Cheers, Duarte

[@sxxon751]

I visited scotland recently and i found the history of forests there fascinating.

[@susank4878]

I grew up in Colorado, so I know how magical aspen are. It's a very good idea to hand pollinate to get seed, because if you just take root cuttings you'll have no genetic variability, since an aspen grove is all one tree, even if it covers many acres.

[@Christian-ni5li]

I think a nursery would be a great idea! Also, is it just me or is the volume of the video lower than normal? I hope you guys bump it up a bit on the next video

[@MossyEarth]

It is... sorry for that Christian. It was a rendering mistake. So much work to edit the video just to mess up the render. It is what happens when you finish projects at 1 AM - Cheers, Duarte

[@bendymond4981]

Great video! Although there is another Poplar that grows in Britain, the Black Poplar. It's arguably even more endangered due to intense grazing preventing regeneration

[@DuncanPepper]

Yup, Black Poplar, White Poplar and Aspen all grow in Scotland . The white is a naturalised non-naive, the other two are native.

[@MossyEarth]

My bad... that fact slipped! Thank you for the correction :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@cherylbush9780]

Just one of the many environmental projects I love about Scotland, are their mixed tree plantings. We have here, landscapers par excellence, with a knowledge and sensitivity for the environment, I'm so very grateful to live here💓😌🙏

[@Alex_Plante]

This is great. Scotland needs more forests, the problem is there are no wolves or other natural predators, and too many deer, sheep and goats, so the young seedling get eaten. In another video, it was explained that to restore the forest in Scotland you need to fence off areas to keep out these animals.

[@MossyEarth]

We fence all our planting areas, it is essential in Scotland and makes planting very expensive. The predators will hopefully be returned one day, but it will be a very long road. - Cheers, Duarte

[@TheBobador]

Let's get this nursery going! 💪

[@MossyEarth]

Lets go :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@stuartmanson1170]

I live in Scotland, I think that this is a terrific idea, aspen is a very special tree.I look forward to hearing how your plans progress. I would donate to this if needed.Also Trees for Life are highly regarded here, maybe they could help, in a joint project ?

[@MossyEarth]

We will be reaching out to them for some more advice :) Maybe a project will materialise! - Cheers, Duarte

[@LukasM297]

Creating a tree nursery not only for aspen but for other native trees would be great

[@drillerdev4624]

I just recently discovered you guys, but I assumed a nursery would have been one of the first steps for long term projects. Better now than later.

[@dharmesh3660]

Great video as always and anything that helps the beavers is a good thing in my world!

[@silano360]

- calls itself mossy earth - can‘t identify moss on Aspen No but seriously, great work from you guys 👌

[@MossyEarth]

Haha I was thinking that while filming. However, I must point out I did identify the moss! - Cheers, Duarte

[@stevenjohnston3496]

Wonderful sound and beautiful colour,and I should know as I am in Utah.(I have personally camped in Pando) As a descendant of one of the prominent clans of Scotland and a fan of Poplars(had several in the front yard) I am thrilled to see the return of our state trees cousin to it's proper home. Keep up the good work!

[@AkariGabrielle]

A nursery is a good idea. Have you looked into propagation by either air layering branches of established trees, or rooting cuttings? They would be clones, but with different source trees the genetic variation would be there.

[@Dovey129]

Sounds like an amazing idea to start your own nursery.

[@sweetsounds9674]

In any of my travels in Scotland I always wondered why there were not more trees, the country is aching for it and it has all the ingredients to support a beautiful Forest. I think you should have every kind of Nursery you can get, when you supply your own goods, you cut out a lot of potential problems.

[@mox1578]

Is there any possibility of you guys doing work on wet lands or forests in England? Our country's wildlife and ecosystem has been torn apart almost worse than any other on earth. A video or project helping to restore and maintain ancient woodland here would be an absolute dream to see on this channel. Love yours guys work membership is well worth it 💚

[@MossyEarth]

Hi Mox, we are looking at some English projects don't you worry! We have a few projects in the south but want to expand that in the future. - Cheers, Duarte

[@vaaston197]

I really love the idea of you guys setting up a nursery. I would love to see a series of videos showing your progress.

[@NiskaMagnusson]

this is really beautiful, been to Scotland a few times and never seen anything like it. Hope we see a lot of these in future!

[@PatrikInNature]

Very interesting video! Great content, I love it :D

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Patrik! Not your levels of cinematography yet but we will get there! - Cheers, Duarte

[@PatrikInNature]

​ @Mossy Earth You are definitely not far behind. Every new video that you guys post is a level up in quality. Bravo :)

[@nickcollins4268]

I absolutely love our native quaking aspens on other side of Atlantic in eastern canada. There is no better sound to fall asleep to! An excellent choice I think !

[@mazer4112]

Thanks to everyone for helping heal the earth!!

[@willemvanoranje5724]

2nd to watch :O Nice work guys! This reminds me of the Pando, just as you said in the video, do you know if there are any other giant cloned forests of one single tree? Love your channel, keep up this amazing work!!!

[@MossyEarth]

The forest in this video is probably a clonal stand :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@thesilentone4024]

Can you do a video on America's last ancient forests and how they benefit us. Also can you mybe start some projects in America that help change are farms.

[@MossyEarth]

Video idea added to the list! With regards to American projects, we are looking into it. We will need to hire more people but we have some plans in the works! - Cheers, Duarte

[@thesilentone4024]

@@MossyEarth fantastic news. Well good luck on finding more feet to work for ya. Can't wait to see the new projects and potentially videos in America 🤗.

[@MegaDeepRoots]

I love the idea of Mossy Earth starting an Aspen nursery! If you can do it easily enough... why not. Salmon, Beavers, and Aspen are all keystone species! You guys are awesome! Keep up the great work!

[@07thomasdd]

I'm afraid you're unknowingly spreading some misinformation in this video. Quercus Robur, the English Oak supports more species than any other tree in the UK, not the Aspen and that's a fact. The Aspen is also not the only poplar species native to the UK. Populus Nigra, the Black Poplar is another native poplar species. Other than that tho, any tree content is good content. Thanks for rewooding our land.

[@geronimo8159]

Looking at Aspen leafs flickering in mild wind is quite satisfying. Nice for meditation 👌

[@derek68able]

Great work, we need more people like you.

[@growscotland2521]

Keep up the great work buddy its nice too see others so interested in nature

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@Cornflower20]

Such beautiful trees! I’m so glad there will be more of them in the future!

[@olddogoddments675]

A large part of my working life was spent reestablishing native forest in the northwest of Scotland. Wherever I had any say I included aspen and when aspen were included I always spread them widely within the job as each one could be the basis of a grove through clonal reproduction. What I thought missing from this good video is how fond grazers are of aspen. They, especially deer, seem to graze it selectively in preference to birch and other commoner trees. So I did wonder while watching these two men and their dog(s) planting, what was going to stop deer getting every one of them? Were they planting within a deer fenced area? Was each tree going get a strong and high enough tube to save it? Had the local hefted deer been shot out giving the tree plants a few years to grow tall before deer reoccupied the area? It's "extensive" grazing that has made the Highlands so bare. Pre 18th Century herds and flocks had to be accompanied as there were wolves and the wolves kept deer in check. Without wolves trees will only spread again if action is taken to control grazers.

[@fish_fucker2.017]

The deer get shot, to keep their numbers to sustainable levels and keep impacts of deer grazing and trampling to a low.

[@MossyEarth]

Hi! Apologies for not explaining that. Our planting is done in fenced areas which are monitored and controlled for deer. - Cheers, Duarte

[@freeforester1717]

Good fences make for good neighbours, and are the surest means to seeing the trees grow beyond the age of vulnerability to browsing damage by any herbivore, be they hares, deer, sheep or cattle even. In the winter of 2010/2011 I culled deer in a local Forest; retracing the steps of two roe does I had culled, I noted that despite the only things above the frozen snow were tips of Sitka spruce, none had been eaten, and only a few wisps of frosted Heather were exposed by the slow strengthening of the sun (early February, the ground had been covered in frozen slush since December 16th previous, then feet of snow atop, making digging down for food impossible). The deer died of starvation rather than ate the non-native Sitka. Oaks, aspen, Scots pine, all native species, rank far higher in palatability for deer, hence their need for enhanced protection until beyond vulnerability stage, preferably by exclusion fencing of the site planted.

[@M.Campbell]

I love this. Much of the world looks entirely different than it used to before the industrial revolution and widespread farming. We've learned better methods, now it's time to restore what we can.

[@brianthesnail3815]

There is a beautiful yellow leafed Aspen tree in a park opposite my house. I noticed it this morning as I came downstairs as it lines up with the fanlight in my door.

[@bettypelton7711]

I have heard this tree before. To me it sounds like the trees are clapping 👏🏼

[@Zharn_]

Thank you for helping my Country. 💙

[@yggdrasi]

I live just a few hours away from Pando. Aspens are so important and iconic, I hope for the best for all lf your efforts.

[@realtalkz3930]

I'd love to see what Scotland would look like if all the highlands were covered in forests it's gorgous place to begin with but if we could repair the damaged landscape back to how it once was that would be magical

[@emilyarchibald1900]

So sad to learn that climate change might be causing an issue with the trees. Thankfully you guys are there to help. :)

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Emily! We appreciate the support :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@voldlifilm]

This is very interesting! Thank you for sharing.

[@ginkotree08]

Creating an aspen tree nursery is a great idea and certainly one that I would support 😊

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Graham! - Cheers, Duarte

[@Aethelwolf]

I was traveling through Scotland by train in 1981. I was impressed then on the strips of reforestation I saw then.

[@DuncanPepper]

Great video. Happy to host your nursery on my ground if that works for you. Julian feels the same.

[@MossyEarth]

Beavers, Aspen and Salmon... what other projects will we be getting through you!? Thank you Duncan! We will sharpen the idea internally a bit more and come to you and Julian with some concrete proposals :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@thomasnagyberry]

Yes Duncan!! 🎉