| Faskally Forest | |
|---|---|
Faskally Forest around Loch Dunmore
| |
 | |
| Type | Mixed woods |
| Location | Scotland, UK |
| Coordinates | 56°42′N 3°45′W / 56.7°N 3.75°W / 56.7; -3.75 |
| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| Created | 1953 |
| Operated by | The Forestry Commission |
| Open | All year |
Faskally Forest also known as Faskally Woods is a wooded area in Perthshire, Scotland, UK.[1] It is among the mixed woodlands of Perthshire and is well known for its radiant colours during the autumn. It is one of the early forest lands of Perthshire Big Tree County.[2] Originally a "model woodland" developed in the 19th century with a resort owned by Archibald Edward Butter of the Butter family,[3][4] Faskally was acquired by the Forestry Commission of Scotland to set up a school for training young foresters.[4]
A colourful annual event at Faskally is known as the "Enchanted Forest", having received awards consecutively for three years since 2011 as the Best Cultural Event in Scotland.[5]
Faskally Woods is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) north-west of Pitlochry, also a rail-head.[4]
It is situated on Loch Faskally's north shore and the forest surrounds Loch Dunmore.[6] When acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1953, it covered an area of about 55 hectares (140 acres), but in the present day measures 25 hectares (62 acres) after undergoing a "transformation into an irregular structure".[1] Faskally House is situated within this forest.[7] The River Garry flows below the lawns of this house.[3][8]
The Fiscally Forest was created in the 19th century by Archibald Butter who later built his estate here. The entire estate was acquired by the Forestry Commission and Faskally House was used as a forestry training centre until the late 1960s when it was shut down. However, the forest is maintained on a "continuous cover forestry basis" by developing appropriate management plans.[3][7][9] Faskally Wood became a part of the Forestry Commission's Tummel Forest administration. Under the East Scotland Conservancy, the priority emphasis for its development was to make its recreation centre with landscaping of high aesthetics, rather than producing timber.[10]
The soil formation in this forest land is a mixture of brown earth and ironpans that are formed above the Dalradian mica schist. In view of sheltered conditions, the area experiences frost. The mean annual rainfall here is about 900 millimetres (35 in).[1]
The vegetation in the early part of the 20th century consisted of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), European larch (Larix decidua), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Following the purchase of the forest land by the Forestry Commission in 1953, it was subjected to restrictions and restructuring of the forest vegetation, and reduction of the area. Sequential planting occurred, including Douglas fir, Norway spruce, western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla, European beech, Scots pine, European larch and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth).[1]
Faskally Woods now has 23 species of trees consisting of an assemblage of "conifers and broad leaves" vegetation. The trees are of various sizes and some are more than 100 years old, such as Douglas fir, silver firs, wild cherry, and oak.[10]
Citations
Bibliography
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