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53-633: The Scots pines of the Caledonian Forest are directly descended from the first pines to arrive in Scotland following the Late Glacial ; arriving about 7000 BC . The forest reached its maximum extent about 5000 BC , after which the Scottish climate became wetter and windier. This changed climate reduced the extent of the forest significantly by 2000 BC . From that date, human actions (including

106-488: A fibre saturation point of 0.25 kg/kg, and a saturation moisture content of 1.60 kg/kg. The pine fibres are used to make the textile known as vegetable flannel , which has a hemp -like appearance, but with a tighter, softer texture. The pine has also been widely planted in New Zealand and much of the colder regions of North America; it was one of the first trees introduced to North America, in about 1600. It

159-417: A false prophecy to St Columba. In the 9th century Historia Brittonum , Rhydderch is one of four Brythonic kings (along with Urien , Gwallog and Morcant ) named as fighting against Hussa of Bernicia . This is often interpreted as an alliance of Northern Brythonic kings, though it is not explicitly stated that they fought together against Hussa. If they did fight together, Rhydderch may have been present at

212-489: A few weeks. Previously, the pine was grown in and used extensively by the coal mining regions of Flanders, Belgium. It was used to fortify tunnels, primarily because it would make a cracking sound when in need of replacement. Large patches of forest, mostly containing the species, are still scattered over the countryside. Several cultivars are grown for ornamental purposes in parks and large gardens, of which 'Aurea', 'Beuvronensis', 'Frensham', and 'Gold Coin' have gained

265-520: A flat to pyramidal apophysis (the external part of the cone scale), with a small prickle on the umbo (central boss or protuberance). The seeds are blackish, 3–5 mm ( 1 ⁄ 8 – 3 ⁄ 16  in) in length with a pale brown 12–20 mm ( 1 ⁄ 2 – 13 ⁄ 16  in) wing and are released when the cones open in spring 22–24 months after pollination. The pollen cones are yellow, occasionally pink, 8–12 mm ( 5 ⁄ 16 – 15 ⁄ 32  in) long; pollen release

318-667: A growing interest to reintroduce animals which are native to but currently extinct in Great Britain , back into Caledonian pine forests. Corporations have been set up to persuade the government to allow this. The long-running campaign to reintroduce the Eurasian beaver to Knapdale in Argyll has been successful, and there is some support for the reintroduction of the grey wolf and Eurasian lynx . Recently, some landowners have announced plans to build large game reserves on their land and release

371-403: A secret message to the saint asking him to prophesy the method of his death. The king is concerned if he should die by the hand of one of his enemies, but the saint tells him that he will die at home in his bed. The description of his death is assumed to be accurate, as Adomnán was writing at a time when Rhydderch's life was probably still relatively well known, and he would be unlikely to attribute

424-414: A spirally arranged scale-like pattern. On mature trees the leaves ('needles') are a glaucous blue-green, often darker green to dark yellow-green in winter, 2.5–5 centimetres (1–2 inches) long and 1–2 millimetres ( 1 ⁄ 32 – 3 ⁄ 32  in) broad, produced in fascicles of two with a persistent gray 5–10 mm ( 1 ⁄ 4 – 3 ⁄ 8  in) basal sheath. On vigorous young trees

477-470: A story about a military expedition by Clydno Eidyn and the Tri Hael (Rhydderch, Nudd Hael and Mordaf Hael), where they travel to Gwynedd to avenge the death of Elidir Mwynfawr. Elidir had apparently been killed in a dispute with Rhun Hir over the succession of the kingdom following the death of the previous king Maelgwn Gwynedd . The historical validity of this story is doubted. Life of St Kentigern In

530-556: A vast wilderness of Scots pine , birch , rowan , aspen , juniper , oak and a few other hardy species. On the west coast, oak and birch predominated in a temperate rainforest ecosystem rich in ferns , mosses and lichens . The name comes from Pliny the Elder who reveals that 30 years after the Roman invasion of Britain their knowledge of it did not extend beyond the neighbourhood of silva caledonia . He gives no information about where

583-479: Is a synonym of Pinus sylvestris . The cone fossil had been recovered during the years 1884 and 1885 in Niederrad which is a quarter of Frankfurt am Main , Germany . Genes of Scots Pine that are expressed in the haploid stage of the life cycle appear to be subject to stronger purifying selection than genes expressed only in the diploid stage. The concept that those genes of an organism that are expressed in

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636-464: Is an evergreen coniferous tree growing up to 35 metres (115 feet) in height and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in trunk diameter when mature, exceptionally over 45 m (148 ft) tall and 1.7 m ( 5 + 1 ⁄ 2  ft) in trunk diameter on very productive sites. The tallest on record is a tree over 210 years old growing in Estonia which stands at 46.6 m (153 ft). The lifespan

689-456: Is briefly explained, " a Chyledyr Wyllt y uab, a llad Nwython a oruc a diot y gallon, a chymhell yssu callon y dat, ac am hynny yd aeth Kyledyr yg gwyllt ." ("and his son Kyledyr the Wild. Gwynn killed Nwython and cut out his heart, and forced Kyledyr to eat his father's heart, and that is how Kyledyr went mad"). Though not named directly, the very name Kyledyr Wyllt is close to the two related notions of

742-487: Is considered an indicator species for that habitat type. Fire appears to increase the natural recruitment of Scots pine seedlings. The charity Trees for Life (Scotland) has been working to conserve the remaining forest, and reforest areas where it has been lost, using fences to prevent deer from eating saplings. This involves the reintroduction of the full range of native flora, including mycorrhizal fungi that assist soil regeneration . In recent years, there has been

795-493: Is in mid to late spring. Over 100 Pinus sylvestris varieties have been described in the botanical literature, but only three or four are now accepted. They differ only minimally in morphology, but with more pronounced differences in genetic analysis and resin composition. Populations in westernmost Scotland are genetically distinct from those in the rest of Scotland and northern Europe, but not sufficiently to have been distinguished as separate botanical varieties. Trees in

848-554: Is listed as an invasive species in some areas there, including Ontario , Michigan . It has been widely used in the United States for the Christmas tree trade, and was one of the most popular Christmas trees from the 1950s through the 1980s. It remains popular for that usage, though it has been eclipsed in popularity, by such species as Fraser fir , Douglas-fir , and others. Despite its invasiveness in parts of eastern North America,

901-487: Is normally 150–300 years, with the oldest recorded specimens in Lapland , Northern Finland over 760 years. The bark is thick, flaky and orange-red when young to scaly and gray-brown in maturity, sometimes retaining the former on the upper portion. The habit of the mature tree is distinctive due to its long, bare and straight trunk topped by a rounded or flat-topped mass of foliage. The shoots are light brown, with

954-434: Is slower. In Scandinavian countries, the pine was used for making tar in the preindustrial age. Some active tar producers still exist, but that industry has almost ceased. The pine has also been used as a source of rosin and turpentine . The wood is pale brown to red-brown, and used for general construction work. It has a dry density around 470 kg/m (varying with growth conditions), an open porosity of 60%,

1007-654: Is the only pine native to northern Europe, ranging from Western Europe to Eastern Siberia , south to the Caucasus Mountains and Anatolia , and north to well inside the Arctic Circle in Fennoscandia . In the north of its range, it occurs from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), while in the south of its range it is a mountain tree, growing at 1,200–2,600 m (3,900–8,500 ft) altitude. Its distribution intersects with T. piniperda's habitat, making

1060-614: The Black Book of Carmarthen . The forest is also the retreat of another character named Lailoken from the Vita Kentigerni , who also fled into the woods in a fit of madness and who may be the original model for Myrddin Wyllt. William A. Young argues that Brocéliande , the forest which features in Chrétien de Troys ' Arthurian romance, Le Chevalier au lion , may be the forest of Celython. In

1113-600: The Caledonian Forest , which once covered much of the Scottish Highlands . Overcutting for timber demand, fire, overgrazing by sheep and deer, and even deliberate clearance to deter wolves have all been factors in the decline of this once great pine and birch forest. Only comparatively small areas – 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres), only just over 1% of the estimated original 1,500,000 ha (3,700,000 acres)  – of this ancient forest remain,

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1166-505: The Life of St Kentigern , Rhydderch is the royal patron of the saint, and through this tied to the founding of the city of Glasgow . One of the saint's miracles was to save Rhydderch's adulterous Queen Languoreth from the king's wrath, by rediscovering her lost ring and thereby proving her innocence. The coat of arms of Glasgow features a salmon with a ring in its mouth in reference to this story. Welsh mythology Rhydderch appears in several of

1219-623: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit . The Scots pine is the plant badge of Clan Gregor . It is the national tree of Scotland . One fossil seed cone of Pinus montana fossilis was sent by the Naturmuseum Senckenberg to the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Swedish: Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet), as a scientific gift specimen, the seed cone is of late Pliocene age ( Reuverian ). Pinus montana

1272-655: The Scottish Government listed 84 sites as Caledonian pinewood in regulations, given below. 57°07′12″N 4°42′36″W  /  57.1200°N 4.7100°W  / 57.1200; -4.7100 Pinus sylvestris Pinus sylvestris , the Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), Baltic pine , or European red pine is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae that is native to Eurasia . It can readily be identified by its combination of fairly short, blue-green leaves and orange-red bark. Pinus sylvestris

1325-707: The Welsh Triads , along with many characters and events associated with him, indicating a once well known story now lost. He is the owner of one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain : a magical sword called Dyrnwyn (white-hilt). The list also attempts to justify Rhydderch's epithet 'Hael' in describing the sword: "if a well-born man drew it himself, it burst into flame from its hilt to its tip. And everyone who used to ask for it would receive; but because of this peculiarity everyone used to reject it. And therefore he

1378-528: The climate began to slowly warm in the Atlantic period , and the temperate coniferous forests began retreating north into the Scottish Highlands , the last remaining climatic region suitable for them in the British Isles (see Climate of Scotland ). The native pinewoods that formed this westernmost outpost of the taiga of post-glacial Europe are estimated to have covered 15,000 km (3,700,000 acres) as

1431-646: The silva caledonia was, but the known extent of the Roman occupation suggest that it was north of the River Clyde and west of the River Tay . In the Matter of Britain , the forest is the site of one of King Arthur 's Twelve Battles, according to the Historia Brittonum , in which the battle is called Cat Coit Celidon . Scholars Rachel Bromwich and Marged Haycock suggest that the army of trees animated by sorcerers in

1484-402: The 1980s showed that further damage had occurred through ploughing and planting with non-native conifers with less than 12,000 ha of the ancient habitat remaining. A subsequent guide to the ancient pinewoods reviews the conservation story and provides a summary of the management in each site as well as a guide on how to reach all the woods using public transport, walking, and cycling. Much of

1537-544: The British Isles: Mammal species present in Caledonian pine forests: Insect species in the Caledonian pine forests: Mammal species extinct in Caledonian pine forests: A review of the native pinewoods of Scotland Steven & Carlisle (1959) highlighted the plight of the remaining 35 ancient pinewood sites, many of which had been damaged by felling, fire and intensive grazing from sheep and deer. A later review in

1590-499: The European Union Habitats Directive . Scientific research continues on the ecology of the Caledonian Forest and its restoration. Populations of the rare groundcover, Linnaea borealis , may be too isolated from one another to produce viable seed. Diversity of fungi has also been affected by the decrease in habitat. The agaric fungus Mycena purpureofusca is commonly found in Caledonian pine woods, and it

1643-668: The Generous ), Riderch I of Alt Clut , or Rhydderch of Strathclyde , ( fl. 580 – c. 614) was a ruler of Alt Clut , a Brittonic kingdom in the Hen Ogledd or "Old North" of Britain. He was one of the most famous kings in the Hen Ogledd , and appears frequently in later medieval works in Welsh and Latin . Rhydderch appears in Adomnán 's Vita Sancti Columbae , written around 700, where he sends

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1696-554: The Lake District and North Pennines 500 years later. It was present in Ireland over 8,800 years ago but absent from Wales at that time which suggests that the pine in Ireland had a separate Iberian origin or contained surviving populations, although evidence towards its survival is lacking. Pine expanded into Scotland between 8,000 and 8,500 years ago either from an independent refuge, from Scandinavia (via Doggerland ) or from Ireland. As

1749-456: The Middle Welsh story Culhwch and Olwen , the main character Culhwch is the son of a king named Celyddon Wledig, who may or may not be related to the forest in name. Another figure from the same story, Cyledyr Wyllt hints at a close relationship of the forest being a retreat for people who suffered from a special kind of madness or gwyllt (Irish geilt ). In line 994 to 996 of the story, it

1802-696: The Netherlands. Whether it truly became extinct in England is unknown. It has been speculated that it may have survived wild long enough for trees used in cultivation in England to derive from native (rather than imported) sources. Shakespeare (in Richard II ) was familiar with the species in the 1590s, as was Evelyn in the early 1660s ( Sylva ), both around the time when the pine was thought to become extinct in England, but when landowners were also beginning ornamental and forestry planting. The pine formed much of

1855-678: The Old Welsh poem Cad Goddeu ("Battle of the Trees") are intended to be the Caledonian Forest. In related Merlin literature, the figure of Myrddin Wyllt retreated to these woods in his madness after the Battle of Arfderydd in the year 573. He fled from the alleged wrath of the king of Strathclyde, Rhydderch Hael , after the slaying of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio . This is written in the two Merlinic poems in Middle Welsh Yr Oinau and Yr Afallenau in

1908-563: The beetle a primary pest of the tree. The species is mainly found on poorer, sandy soils, rocky outcrops, peat bogs or close to the forest limit. On fertile sites, the pine is out-competed by other tree species, usually spruce or broad-leaved trees . The tree spread across Britain and Ireland after the Last Glacial Maximum . Pollen records show that pine was present locally in southern England by 9,000 years ago having entered from northeast France and that it had spread as far north as

1961-572: The climate warmed it became extinct from most of Britain and Ireland around 5,500 years ago except in Scotland, Kielder in England and The Burren in County Clare , Ireland. The Irish and western Scottish populations went through a massive decline around 4,000 years ago which ultimately led to the practical extinction of the Irish population between 2,000 and 1,000 years ago. It was replaced by large areas of blanket bog in western Scotland and Ireland though

2014-502: The earliest maps of Scotland suggests that the extent of the Caledonian Forest remnants has changed little since 1600. Following the last glacial period , trees began to recolonise what is now the British Isles over a land bridge which is now beneath the Strait of Dover . Forests of this type were found all over what is now the island of Great Britain for a few thousand years, before

2067-424: The eastern part of its range, it occurs with Siberian pine , among others. In 2020, black spot needle blight was found on hundreds of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica trees in four forest farms in northeastern China. It first appeared on the upper part of the needles, and then the needles became withered and gradually showed light black spots, although they still remained green. As the fungal disease progressed,

2120-465: The far north of the range were formerly sometimes treated as var. lapponica , but the differences are clinal and it is not genetically distinct. Before the 18th century, the species was more often known as Scots fir or Scotch fir . Another, less common name is European redwood . The timber from it is also called red deal or yellow deal ; the name "deal" comes from an archaic unit of volume used to measure wood . Pinus sylvestris

2173-687: The first pines to arrive in Scotland following the ice age. These remnants have adapted genetically to different Scottish environments, and as such, are globally unique; their ecological characteristics form an unbroken, 9000-year chain of natural evolution with a distinct variety of soils, vegetation, and animals. To a great extent the remnants survived on land that was either too steep, too rocky, or too remote to be agriculturally useful. The largest remnants are in Strathspey and Strath Dee on highly acidic, freely drained glacial deposits that are of little value for cultivation and domestic stock. An examination of

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2226-592: The forest of Celyddon being where people suffering madness or gwyllt hide. Being a unique ecosystem in the British Isles, the Caledonian Pinewoods are home to some of the islands' rarest wildlife . It is considered to be one of the last remaining wildernesses in the British Isles. Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests found breeding nowhere else in the British Isles: Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests rare elsewhere in

2279-408: The grazing effects of sheep and deer) reduced it to its current extent. Today, that forest exists as 35 remnants, as authenticated by Steven & Carlisle (1959) (or 84 remnants, including later subjective subdivisions of the 35) covering about 180 square kilometres (69 sq mi) or 44,000 acres (18,000 ha). The Scots pines of these remnants are, by definition, directly descended from

2332-432: The haploid stage are subject to more efficient natural selection than those genes expressed exclusively in the diploid stage is referred to as the “masking theory”. This theory implies that purifying selection is more efficient in the haploid stage of the life cycle where fitness effects are more evidently expressed than in the diploid stage of the life cycle. Rhydderch Hael Rhydderch Hael (English: Rhydderch

2385-769: The leaves can be twice as long, and occasionally occur in fascicles of three or four on the tips of strong shoots. Leaf persistence varies from two to four years in warmer climates, and up to nine years in subarctic regions. Seedlings up to one year old bear juvenile leaves; these are single (not in pairs), 2–3 cm ( 3 ⁄ 4 – 1 + 1 ⁄ 4  in) long, flattened, with a serrated margin. The seed cones are red at pollination, then pale brown, globose and 4–8 mm ( 5 ⁄ 32 – 5 ⁄ 16  in) in diameter in their first year, expanding to full size in their second year, pointed ovoid-conic, green, then gray-green to yellow-brown at maturity, 3–7.5 cm ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 –3 in) long. The cone scales have

2438-608: The main surviving remnants being at Abernethy Forest , Glen Affric , Rothiemurchus Forest , and the Black Wood of Rannoch . Plans are currently in progress to restore at least some areas and work has started at key sites. It forms either pure forests or mixes with Norway spruce , common juniper , silver birch , European rowan , Eurasian aspen and other hardwood species. In central and southern Europe, it occurs with numerous additional species, including European black pine , mountain pine , Macedonian pine , and Swiss pine . In

2491-523: The needles eventually died and turned gray with many dark black spots. The fungus was identified as Heterotruncatella spartii (within the family Sporocadaceae ) based on morphology and molecular methods. Pinus sylvestris is an important tree in forestry . The wood is used for pulp and sawn timber products. A seedling stand can be created by planting, sowing, or natural regeneration. Commercial plantation rotations vary between 50 and 120 years, with longer rotations in northeastern areas where growth

2544-548: The pine does not often grow well there, partly due to climate and soil differences between its native habitat and that of North America, and partly due to damage by pests and diseases; the tree often grows in a twisted, haphazard manner if not tended to (as they are in the Christmas tree trade). The pines may be killed by the pine wood nematode , which causes pine wilt disease . The nematode most often attacks trees that are at least ten years old and often kills trees it infects within

2597-588: The reasons for its decline and extinction in England are not clear, but it may have been influenced by human activities. In Britain it now occurs naturally only in Scotland. Historical and archaeological records indicate that it also occurred in Wales and England until about 300–400 years ago, becoming extinct there due to over-exploitation and grazing; it has been re-introduced in these countries. Similar historical extinction and re-introduction applies to Ireland, Denmark and

2650-588: The remaining Caledonian pine forest is fully protected with most of the forest lying within the Cairngorms National Park . The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Forestry and Land Scotland also own several areas of pinewood on their reserves. One of the largest remaining areas is Ballochbuie Forest on the Balmoral Estate , which is protected as a Special Area of Conservation under

2703-620: The siege of Ynys Metcaut (the Island of Lindisfarne ), where Urien was assassinated by Morcant. Rhydderch was possibly the leader of the victorious army at the Battle of Arfderydd (dated 573 by the Annals Cambriae ). The earliest (12th century copy of presumed 10th century original) manuscript of the AC dates the battle, but does not give the combatants. John Veitch describes him as the Prince of Lanark . The 13th century Black Book of Chirk contains

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2756-432: The species within them. Paul Lister plans to release Eurasian lynx, brown bear , grey wolf, elk , wild boar and species already present in Scotland into a huge 200 km (49,000-acre) enclosure at his estate, Alladale Wilderness Reserve , although releasing top predators such as wolves and bears has become a difficult proposition with local and national regulations. An initial trial enclosure of 5.5 km (1,400 acres)

2809-591: Was built with elk, wild boar, red deer and roe deer. Bain (2013) lists 38 ancient pinewood sites in Britain which have been identified as the most genuinely native and natural. All of them occur in the Scottish Highlands. The Caledonian Pinewood Inventory breaks these down into 84 smaller sub-units of the main sites. In March 2019, as part of the implementation of the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 ,

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