Part 2/8:
Historically, Scotland was richly adorned with Scots pine, the native tree species that once blanketed vast areas of the land. These majestic trees formed a vibrant canopy, creating a thriving understory that hosted diverse wildlife—creatures now relegated to folklore. The previous abundance of life and greenery has been largely hidden from the contemporary consciousness, sadly lost in the passage of time.
Today, the view from Scotland's Highlands presents a stark contrast. Visitors often encounter expansive regions stripped of woodland, replaced instead by stretches of grasslands and barren banklines along rivers. The realization that such vast tracts of land exist devoid of trees raises questions about the environmental degradation that has occurred over centuries.