Land at Drum acquired to restore ancient tree landscape

In 2022, two areas of land surrounding Drum Castle, Garden & Estate, totalling 50 hectares of woodland, became available for sale by two separate landowners, and we have successfully acquired both. Our existing area of ancient wood pasture at the Old Wood of Drum was approximately 45 hectares, so this presented an opportunity to double the size of this nationally significant site and secure its future as a home for this important population of ancient trees.

We manage our places with the intention of conserving and enhancing the land’s natural and cultural features for the benefit of visitors and wildlife. Our team in Aberdeenshire is now working to improve the ecology of the new landholdings in the long term and to create greater connectivity between nature on the estate.

The larger of the two pieces of land was a commercial crop of trees, mainly comprising Scots pine, Norway spruce and Sitka spruce. These were felled, and the land is now regenerating with a mix of non-native conifers, Scots pine and native broadleaves such as birch, rowan, alder, aspen and willow. Management will favour the native trees best suited to the ground conditions and new planting of oak trees to create the ancient trees of the future. Invasive non-native conifers and Rhododendron ponticum, which choke out Scotland’s natural wildlife, will also be removed to enable nature to thrive.

While wood pasture restoration is a centuries-long process that ultimately results in the creation of ancient trees, our immediate priorities are to conduct habitat monitoring, control invasive non-native species, increase the stock of young oak trees, engage local school groups, and increase voluntary participation supporting this ongoing work.

Over time, oak trees will thrive across the land and be managed to recreate a wood-pasture system. Management techniques, which could include woodland grazing and selective thinning, will be developed to support the long-term establishment of future ancient trees, and the landscape will be opened for public enjoyment.

The land also has the remnants of the estate’s original tree-lined entrance driveway leading toward Drum Castle. Now degraded, we intend to reinstate this feature along with Robbie Rossie’s Loch, which could be restored as a valuable wetland habitat.

Philip Long, Chief Executive, said: ’The Old Wood of Drum is one of the few surviving medieval wood pastures and the best collections of ancient trees in Scotland, and is an excellent example of the nature we care for within the Trust. The acquisition of this new woodland aligns with our Plan for Nature, a strategy that drives our contribution to Scotland’s climate and biodiversity targets and underpins our nature conservation priorities and projects for years to come. Woodland restoration features heavily in the Plan for Nature, and wood pasture is one of the Trust’s priority habitats. At the Old Wood of Drum, we will deliver positive impacts for nature and for people.

’There are many complexities in delivering the long-term outcomes of woodland and wood pasture restoration, but a phased approach will safeguard the current landscape and continue its development. Our stewardship of this land will be in the public interest and is possible thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers who deliver practical habitat, species, footpath and cultural site management, as well as provide visitor facilities and support services, environmental education, and interpretation.’

Chris Wardle, Gardens & Designed Landscapes Manager in the North East, said: ’Currently, there is very little established natural regeneration of oak within Old Wood of Drum, due in part to browsing pressure and in part to the lack of sufficient light where the seedlings have germinated. We have an ambition for the next 100–200 years to regenerate the wood pasture system across our land holdings, creating future ancient and veteran trees, particularly the ancient oaks that are such a historic feature of Drum. If we don’t start a new cohort of oak saplings now, there will be no ancient oak trees here in the future, and the habitat will be lost.

’There is a lot of work to be done to transform the area, but there is a huge amount of potential. The current designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest is a great resource and will act as a feeder for the biodiversity plans for the whole site. We plan to unlock a landscape-scale ecological restoration, developing a larger and more accessible landscape of ancient and newly developing woodland and wood pasture for the benefit of nature and visitors.

’Crucially, our intention is also to ensure the Old Wood of Drum thrives for the community because we understand through discussions with the local people that public access to natural green space is important. Sensitive stewardship will allow improved access for all, including schools, nature groups and the public, providing access to natural environments. The activity will support education and a focus on wellbeing, shining a light on nature, heritage and sustainability.’

Philip Long added: ’With the forthcoming Scottish elections in mind, we’d like to offer the Old Wood of Drum as an inspiration to all political parties.

’We understand from polling our members that there is a strong desire to restore nature and provide access to natural green spaces across Scotland. With this in mind, we believe it’s important to transition public forestry subsidies away from commercial plantations of non-native trees, which damage Scotland’s nature, and towards encouraging natural regeneration of native woodlands, planting new native woodlands, and restoring our ancient woodlands. This will help reverse the loss of nature in Scotland and improve access to nature for communities across Scotland.’