Part 3/7:
At Glenfeshie, owned by Danish billionaire Anders H. Søe, extensive reforestation efforts are transforming the land. McDonald and his colleagues strive for a forest featuring a mix of trees at various maturity levels to create a balanced ecosystem. Tree species like willows and dwarf birches are chosen not just for their viability in the current Highlands climate but to promote biodiversity.
Historically, Scotland was vibrant with woodlands until deforestation began in our pursuit of agricultural land, reducing forest coverage to a mere 5% by the 1900s. Reviving these landscapes requires nuanced strategies, which means pairing tree planting with deer management to ensure young saplings have a fighting chance.