Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 1d

More about the wildlife that relies on oaks ➡️ buff.ly/w186Aha

Oh, and if you can come up with a collective noun for 'lots of Woodland Trust staff standing about in an oakwood in the rain', let's hear it!😅

Thanks #ScottishWoodlands for showing us around this incredible site.

An oak wood pasture i.e. old oak trees with plenty of space between them that would traditionally have been grazed. There is a group of around 30 people wearing waterproof jackets standing amidst the trees. Credit WTML

4

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 1d

Old oaks at Lochwood near Moffat. Oaks can live 1000+ years and are a 'keystone species' supporting ~2,300 UK species including the dainty purple hairstreak butterfly (which relies entirely on oak to survive.) We didn't spot one. But we did see a cheeky frog bouncing around in the leaf litter! 1/2

An ancient oak tree with an unusually thick trunk and a large canopy in full leaf, in a woodland in the rain. The bracken on the woodland floor is brown and dying back. Credit WTML

A frog sitting on wet leaf litter. It has mottled skin, beady eyes and is perfectly camouflaged. Credit WTML

A view looking up into the canopy of an old oak tree. There are mosses, ferns and lichens on the thick trunk of the tree. Credit WTML

1 2 15

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 1d

🌎 #WorldMentalHealthDay is about raising awareness and driving positive change for everyone’s mental wellbeing.

💆 Research shows that being in nature can reduce stress and improve wellbeing 👉 buff.ly/47OYfxe

🌳 We might be biased but our favourite spot to unwind is under the canopy. Where's yours?

1 7 15

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 1d

A timely reminder for #WorldMentalHealthDay to take solace in nature. You never know.. you might find the next #TreeOfTheYear like @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social 🌳👑

Alastair Campbell @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social · 2d

Tree of the Day the Skipinnish Oak again. Part of @wtscotsocial.bsky.social exhibition pre COP launched by King Charles and Prince William. Couldn’t be there as was at @bloodcanceruk.bsky.social event. Great to meet up again with Paul who has kept 12 years worth of packaging of his life saving drugs

1 4

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 2d

The dunnock has a torrid love life for such an unassuming little bird. Females often mate openly with one male and secretly with another, while males can have several partners too. The result can be a complex network of birds with multiple relationships🪺

Ooh la la!

📸 Great pic by George Kelsey👏

Close up of a small brown songbird perching. Pic by George Kelsey.

8

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 3d

Lovely to see Roz smiling & happy with her hazelnuts! Nice work all.

Reposted by Woodland Trust Scotland

Trees for Life @treesforlife.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks to our brilliant volunteers, we’ve collected over 50kg of hazelnuts this year! 🌰

Hazel is a key #rainforest species - one of the first to establish in the west after the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.

We're working with @wtscotsocial.bsky.social to boost the availability of native trees

1 14 49

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 3d

Seen a squirrel? Red or grey? In a wood or elsewhere? Help @scotsquirrels.bsky.social by taking part in the #GreatScottishSquirrelSurvey. Report your sightings 6 to 12 Oct ↩️ buff.ly/M2ORzHn

6 7

Reposted by Woodland Trust Scotland

Scottish Environment LINK @scotlink.bsky.social · 10d

We're pleased that the @parliament.scot Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has backed proposals in the Natural Environment Bill to introduce statutory targets to restore nature.

Nature targets are a key demand of our Scotland Loves Nature campaign.

Read more:
www.scotlink.org/msps-back-na...

13 35

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 3d

#WoodlandWorkingGroup volunteers took to #Bellsquarry Community Orchard meadow with scythes 🍎

Cutting vegetation the traditional way will promote wildlife growth, pollinators and more apples🤞 It's wildlife friendly and fun!

Big thanks to our volunteers and #TCV for lending us the equipment ⛏️

3 Woodland working Group volunteers in Bellsquarry Community Orchard cutting the meadow with sythes.

Volunteer raking up cut vegetation in Bellsquarry Community Orchard.

10

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 4d

🍃 #StormAmy brought down trees & limbs — but it’s not all bad news.

🌳 Gaps in the canopy let light in for new growth, deadwood creates habitats and more structural diversity boosts ecosystem health.

Messy, yes — but also natural and even beneficial. 🌱🪵

#DeadwoodIsGoodWood #WoodlandResilience

Beech tree and limbs snapped at base in woodland at Kinclaven. Two people in lower left show scale of the tree that's down.

Tree down across river in the Highlands.

tree down across path in the highlands. Dog showing scale of tree.

1 8

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 4d

Water = life. It's not difficult to spot the wet side of this fir! #ThickTrunkTuesday

Looking up into the canopy of a Douglas fir tree. There are mosses and lichens growing profusely on one side of the tree only. Credit WTML.

Close up of the mosses and lichens growing profusely on one side of a Douglas fir tree. Credit WTML.

10

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 5d

Great to see the wee trees thriving alongside the grannies. Good choice of tree for a hug too!

1

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 5d

Beautiful images of a special place. Thanks for sharing.

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 5d

If Monday has been a shock to the senses, why not hug a tree (not in a storm ravaged woodland though!)

elwalkfest.bsky.social @elwalkfest.bsky.social · Sep 4

Hugging trees, a purely optional activity on the all-ability walk to #ButterdeanWoods

#woodlandwalking
#nature
#woodlandtrust
#forest
#scottishforestry
#rnib

www.walkfest.org.uk

Two of the visually impaired walkers taking time out ti hug a large oak tree. They look very happy!

1 1 4

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 5d

🔊 Could you be our next Policy Advocate (focus on Forestry & Land Use)?
🌳 This exciting role engages with policymakers to influence Scotland's direction on forestry, farming, land reform & wider land use policy & legislation.
🗓️ Closes 23 Oct 2025
More ▶️ buff.ly/mMiKevs
#PolicyJobs #NatureJobs

1 2 2

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 5d

Oh, and if you're brave enough to try that acorn coffee recipe, see buff.ly/IJVa8Pb

A cup of coffee on a table with autumn leaves and acorns in various states of break down. Credit: Arco Images GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 5d

Oor Eilidh talks #acorns and mast years on BBC Scotland's Out of Doors this weekend. Catch her at 1.06 👉

Out of Doors - Snorkelling Artists, Access Rights and a Historic Sailing Ship - BBC Sounds

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.

buff.ly

1

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 5d

Scotland’s red squirrels need our help - the #GreatScottishSquirrelSurvey starts today!
We need your sightings — red or grey — to help build a clearer picture of where squirrels are thriving, and where they need protection.

Seen a squirrel? Report it here 👉 buff.ly/9Jf3esp

📷 Credit Rosanna Forbes

Red squirrel sitting looking towards camera with hands at chest. Credit Rosanna Forbes

Side image of red squirrel with grass blurred in background. Credit Rosanna Forbes.

Red squirrel perched on log with grass in background. Credit Rosanna Forbes.

Red squirrel clasping branch with dull background. Credit Rosanna Forbes.

4 13

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 6d

☔ It's damp out there but it's also #ConkerSeason!

It’s the perfect excuse to head out for a walk, gather some conkers and get crafty indoors. Maybe with a hot chocolate too. 🍂 🧡 🌰

Check out this blog full of creative conker craft ideas 👇

👉 buff.ly/zQAxPQS

Share your #ConkerCreations here 👇

Image of 2 children jumping in a muddy puddle on a path in a woodland. They are wearing wellies and holding umbrellas. Credit: Michael Heffernan / WTML

1 2

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 7d

🌿🍄 Happy #UKFungiDay 🍄🌿

While we often admire the trees, birds and mammals, fungi quietly keep our forests alive and thriving. From the tiniest mycelium threads underground to the striking mushrooms on fallen logs, fungi play a vital role in woodlands.

#ForestFungi #BritishMycologicalSociety

Yellow brain fungus on branch. Credit John Bridges / WTML

Stump puffball fungi on wood with moss. Credit John bridges / WTML

Scarlet elfcup fungi on branch with moss. Credit John Bridges / WTML

2 Earthstar fungi on moss on woodland floor. Credit John Bridges / WTML

2 7

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 8d

⚠️ Storm Amy is due to cause significant disruption today and tomorrow, with yellow and amber weather warnings in place across Scotland ⛈️

❌ Please do not enter the woods during a storm and call 999 in the event of an emergency.

🪵 Stay safe everyone!

A map of Scotland depicting the areas affected by Storm Amy. Most of Scotland is covered by a yellow wind & rain warning with the North West categorised as Amber warning. Please visit the Met Office website for more information.

3 5

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 8d

Big thanks also to Heather from Galloway Fisheries Trust for inspiring us with a peek at 1 of 7 planting sites on the River Err catchment that's supporting riparian habitat restoration (and a brighter future for fish, freshwater habitats and water quality.) Keep up the good work! 👏 2/2

Young trees are emerging from their protective tubes planted next to a winding river on an exposed grassy plateau with hills in the background. It's windy and overhead clouds are grey. Credit WTML

1 7

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks #DumfriesAndGalloway Woodlands for introducing us to Glaisters Bridge this week. An interesting local ground lease model has helped create a fab community asset. We loved the beautifully carved benches, even in the rain! Look forward to hearing how the mycorrhizal pilot project goes too.🤞1/2

Group of people standing in a circle in a field overlooking a small newly planted woodland. There is a carved bench in the foreground and it is raining. Credit WTML.

Painted wooden sign saying 'Glaisters Bridge Community site'. Credit WTML.

Five smiling people wearing waterproofs and sitting on a carved bench in the rain. Credit WTML

A small mychorrizal pellet held in the hand of a woman. It is square and looks like stone! Credit WTML

1 1 9

Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 8d

⚠️ Hunting for fungi is great fun but please remember they are an important part of the woodland ecosystem.

🫱Leave plenty behind and only forage if you're confident what you're picking.

2