The new Cairngorms Aspen Network (the Network) aims to restore aspen tree habitats by mapping, expanding and connecting fragmented stands of the endangered tree in Cairngorms National Park. Aspens, which are characterised by shimmering foliage in summer and leaves which turn golden yellow in the autumn, were once common in Scotland but have now largely disappeared as a result of deforestation and overgrazing. The Network, a partnership between rewilding charity Trees for Life and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, will bring together experts, enthusiasts and land managers to take action to identify and restore the trees.
Doing so, they said, will boost the wildlife and threatened species that depend on them, and help build resilience against climate change. Niamh Byrne, aspen project officer at Trees for Life, said: “The new aspen network will offer much-needed hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies by developing a restored, better-connected and healthier aspen network. “By working together, we can improve the future of our aspen woodlands and the life they bring with them.
” The first stage of the project, which is being carried out by Trees for Life, will see the mapping of the location, condition and health of the existing aspens in the national park, alongside key plants and animals that depend on them. This will be used to help identify key sites and management priorities, including growing and planting plans for creating a thriving new network of.