Three Hazels Standing

Caroline John chronicles the sterling efforts of a dedicated group of  Scottish islanders to reverse a devastating decline in tree cover

Ask almost anyone to picture Orkney and they’ll conjure up images of its unrivalled Neolithic sites, massive stone circles, myriad seabirds or perhaps the stunning panoramas. Trees will most certainly not feature: indeed, even tourist information literature makes liberal use of the words ‘open’, ‘barren’ and even ‘treeless’. And with good cause – the archipelago barely scores 0.1% of wood cover.

Until recently this was put down to the harsh climate. After all, the islands are pounded by ferocious Atlantic storms, blasted by withering Arctic gales and perpetually scalded by salty breezes. None of these are conducive to good tree growth, so it is hardly surprisingly that planting trees featured low on the environmental ‘to do’ list.. 
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