Landscape Change in the Scottish Highlands: Imagination and Reality

The Scottish Highlands are a land of mountains, glens, lochs, golden eagles, red deer, a rich cultural history, clans and clanship, kilts and castles, crofts,crofting, Highland cows and sheep, and music and dance. This book challenges the view that the Highlands are a devastated landscape, showing only minimal signs of human impact over the millennia. The current approach of putting trees back in the landscape, reforesting or rewilding, is destroying the essence of the land, and the current activity of restoring peatland can also result in a loss of the naturalness of the landscape. Loss of natural habitat is a serious global issue, with humans slowly taking over the planet, leaving little space available for the wildness of nature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2023
Publisher: Whittles Publishing

The Scottish Highlands hold a captivating allure in the hearts of many, thanks to the vivid imagery woven by the pen of Sir Walter Scott. These majestic landscapes, characterized by towering mountains, serene glens, and picturesque lochs, have come to symbolize Scotland as a whole, conjuring images of golden eagles soaring overhead, red deer gracing the forests, and a rich cultural heritage steeped in clans, clanship, kilts, castles, crofts, crofting, Highland cows, and sheep. However, it is essential to examine whether this imagined landscape aligns with the reality on the ground. Is the Highlands truly a wild and untamed wilderness, untouched by the pressures of modern civilization, or does this notion exist solely in the realm of imagination? This book aims to provide an objective examination of the Highland landscape's history, its evolution over centuries, and its ongoing transformation. It challenges the notion that the Highlands are a devastated landscape, as famously described by ecologist Frank Fraser Darling. Instead, the evidence presented suggests that the traditional unwooded Highland landscape, characterized by open hill and moor, remains one of the most natural and undisturbed regions in northwest Europe. While there may have been more trees in the past, the woodland declined naturally over time due to a multitude of complex factors. Today, the practice of reintroducing trees, known as reforestation or rewilding, is gaining popularity as a means of restoring and preserving this unique biodiversity. The occurrence of woodland as scattered fragments across the Highlands is a defining characteristic that sets it apart from most of western Europe. In this region, woodland would undoubtedly dominate the landscape, but the scattered nature of the Highland woodlands adds to their charm and contributes to the region's distinct identity. It is worth noting that while the Highland landscape has undergone changes over the centuries, it remains a testament to the resilience and adaptability of nature. The human impact, while significant, has been largely limited to specific areas of settlement. The natural processes of erosion, weathering, and vegetation growth have played a crucial role in shaping the landscape we observe today. The Highland region's unique geography, with its rugged terrain and diverse ecosystems, has allowed for the preservation of many species and habitats that would otherwise be threatened by urbanization and industrialization. In conclusion, the Scottish Highlands hold a rich and complex history that continues to evolve. While the imagined landscape may captivate our imagination, it is essential to examine the reality on the ground. The Highland landscape, characterized by its unwooded open hill and moor, remains one of the most natural and undisturbed regions in northwest Europe. It is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of nature, showcasing the interplay between human impact and natural processes. The scattered nature of the Highland woodlands adds to their charm and contributes to the region's distinct identity. By understanding the history, evolution, and ongoing transformation of the Highland landscape, we can appreciate its value and work towards its preservation for future generations.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849955515