Ray Collier Country Diary- Larch
Larch - 27th October 2008
At this time of the year the larch trees with their golden yellow needles brighten up many areas of woodland in the straths, glens and hillsides but unlike other conifers all the needles will be shed for the winter. The next colour on the trees will be in the spring but you have to look close because it is the loganberry red of the female flowers and the yellow of the male flowers. The cones grow all around the twigs and are egg shaped with tight scales and are unusual in staying on the trees years after the seed has fallen. There seems to be a mystery as to when they were introduced to Scotland as although there are records going back to the 17th century it was not taken seriously until much later. It is, arguably, the one introduced tree that transformed the landscape and as regards its value in timber terms it produces a much better quality timber than Scots pine and grows much faster. Unusually, it was widely planted before the Forestry Commission was formed in 1919 and the most famous example is on the Atholl estates in Perthshire where, from 1740 to 1830, 14 million larches were planted. Larch trees support a variety of wildlife and are particularly important for crossbills as the seeds from the cones are ready in August whereas the seeds of the Scots pine, that are their staple diet, are not ready until later. Various small birds take advantage of caterpillars on larches and the small birds that nest in them include lesser redpolls and siskins. Larger birds, such as buzzard, sometimes build their nests in the older trees. As these trees let in more light than other conifers they also allow a herb layer to form such as bugle, bluebell, wood sorrel and grasses and this in turn attracts a wide range of insects including butterflies. Part of the trees success is its timber that is as hard and strong as Douglas fir. Its great strength in big timbers made it the tree for the heavy beams needed in trawlers and as it is highly durable in the ground or the air it is the traditional timber for fencing posts on the farm or croft. The use of larch in building ships is legendary with, in the early nineteenth century, a brig being constructed of larch timber. The first British warship to be built entirely of larch was a frigate of 28 guns built between 1816 and 1820. Unlike oak, larch does not corrode iron bolts and fittings and it is less prone to shrinking. For warships in battle the fact that larch is not prone to splintering meant fewer lives were lost. We may just accept the larch in the straths, glens and hillsides but along with a few other trees such as Sitka spruce it changed the landscape of the Highlands and will do for some years to come.
At this time of the year the larch trees with their golden yellow needles brighten up many areas of woodland in the straths, glens and hillsides but unlike other conifers all the needles will be shed for the winter. The next colour on the trees will be in the spring but you have to look close because it is the loganberry red of the female flowers and the yellow of the male flowers. The cones grow all around the twigs and are egg shaped with tight scales and are unusual in staying on the trees years after the seed has fallen. There seems to be a mystery as to when they were introduced to Scotland as although there are records going back to the 17th century it was not taken seriously until much later. It is, arguably, the one introduced tree that transformed the landscape and as regards its value in timber terms it produces a much better quality timber than Scots pine and grows much faster. Unusually, it was widely planted before the Forestry Commission was formed in 1919 and the most famous example is on the Atholl estates in Perthshire where, from 1740 to 1830, 14 million larches were planted. Larch trees support a variety of wildlife and are particularly important for crossbills as the seeds from the cones are ready in August whereas the seeds of the Scots pine, that are their staple diet, are not ready until later. Various small birds take advantage of caterpillars on larches and the small birds that nest in them include lesser redpolls and siskins. Larger birds, such as buzzard, sometimes build their nests in the older trees. As these trees let in more light than other conifers they also allow a herb layer to form such as bugle, bluebell, wood sorrel and grasses and this in turn attracts a wide range of insects including butterflies. Part of the trees success is its timber that is as hard and strong as Douglas fir. Its great strength in big timbers made it the tree for the heavy beams needed in trawlers and as it is highly durable in the ground or the air it is the traditional timber for fencing posts on the farm or croft. The use of larch in building ships is legendary with, in the early nineteenth century, a brig being constructed of larch timber. The first British warship to be built entirely of larch was a frigate of 28 guns built between 1816 and 1820. Unlike oak, larch does not corrode iron bolts and fittings and it is less prone to shrinking. For warships in battle the fact that larch is not prone to splintering meant fewer lives were lost. We may just accept the larch in the straths, glens and hillsides but along with a few other trees such as Sitka spruce it changed the landscape of the Highlands and will do for some years to come.
posted by Corinne @ 3:47 PM
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