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Reposted by Alan Motion

futurewoodlands.bsky.social @futurewoodlands.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Rhododendron ponticum harms Scotland’s rainforests.🌸 Instead of using labour intensive methods to clear this invasive, we’re funding research by Treeconomy to turn it into a resource for woodland recovery. Find out more and contact Treeconomy to take this research further ow.ly/7WvJ50YuMvL

ow.ly

Turning invasive species into a mechanism for woodland recovery using Ecochar™ - Future Woodlands Scotland

A new Future Woodlands Scotland-funded study shows how material from invasive rhododendron could help fund long-term woodland restoration

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

European roller, Coracias garrulus, from a recent spell in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, KwaZulu-Natal.

A European roller bird perched on a branch, looking to the left of picture.

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Reposted by Alan Motion

Institute of Chartered Foresters @theicf.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

We’re delighted to announce Paul Brannen and Professor Peter Bonfield OBE have been awarded Honorary Fellowships, recognising their outstanding leadership in sustainable forestry, timber and climate action. Read more: charteredforesters.org/paul-brannen...

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

A Long-tailed tit earlier this year at Anagach Wood, Grantown-on-Spey. I went looking for crossbills and crested tit without success, but this little fella made up for it.

A Long-tailed tit sitting on a branch of Scots pine.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Here we go, @theicf.bsky.social professional exams, 50 applicants hoping to progress to #CharteredForester within the grand setting of St Leonard's Hall. My 24th year as part of the exam team and a privilege to be involved with such a professional group of people #forestry #arboriculture

A grand, ornate balustrade and staircase within St Leonard's Hall, Pollock Halls, University of Edinburgh.

Poster with the words Nurture Grow Thrive, promoting the value of becoming a Chartered Forester.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Wooden polychrome door in Pedro I Palace Real Alcázar de Sevilla, 1356. Carbon captured and stored.

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Reposted by Alan Motion

National Library of Scotland @natlibscot.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

This #GreenLibrariesWeek we are celebrating the amazing ecosystems of trees and forests with the Open Shelves display in the General Reading Room. Meet remarkable trees or explore the interconnected life of our woodlands. www.nls.uk/whats-on/ope...

shelves with books about trees and forests

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Reposted by Alan Motion

Institute of Chartered Foresters @theicf.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

The UKFS isn’t just for foresters. That’s why we created the UKFS for Non-Foresters online course designed to help allied professionals understand and apply the principles of sustainable forestry 🌲 Start learning today: silvestor.org.uk/non-forester...

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Here I am, back in my favourite place for the penultimate guided walk of the year. Just an uneducated forester according to some, enjoying this nature-depleted landscape where every tree you see has been planted by others equally uneducated.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

A few feathered friends from my trip to Shetland back in July. I love camera-shy Guillemot No 3.

Fulmar in flight against a backdrop of dark cliffs

Great skua, locally known as Bonxy, standing on cropped grass, Shetland

7 Guillemots standing in line along a cliff edge

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Reposted by Alan Motion

Rewild Scotland @rewildscotland.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Scotland has so much to be proud of. But there’s something missing – something extraordinary... More info www.scotlandbigpicture.com/lynx-to-scotland 🎶 by Beluga Lagoon, 🎬 SCOTLAND:The Big Picture

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

What is also needed is certainty of Scot Gov policy so that nurseries like this know there's an outlet for those trees in 3 years time. Cutting the forestry budget without forewarning is far from helpful.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Sunlight through paperbark maple, Acer griseum. I grew this from seed and planted it in 1999 when my red-haired lad was born.

A branch of paperbark maple tree with peeling orange bark, backlit by the sun. Buchlyvie Scotland.

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Reposted by Alan Motion

Institute of Chartered Foresters @theicf.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Hello Bluesky 👋 Our digital presence is growing and we'll now be posting about ICF news, sector news, events and more from our new Bluesky account. Help us grow our Bluesky community by following us and engaging with our content.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

@bsbibotany.bsky.social #Wildflowerhour #bythesea some Sea Rocket (Cakile maritime) and some Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) I think. Both on Findhorn beach this week.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Took a walk into Glen Feshie today. Since Wildland took over and removed the intense deer browsing, the glen has undergone a rebirth. This is my tree of the day. A survivor from the past, amongst the new generation of Caledonian pine. Being there is good for the soul.

A collapsed stem of Scots pine, partially dead, but with live crown hanging on and rising from the ground. In the background, lots of young pine trees are emerging from land that was Darren and heavily overgrazed less than 20 years ago.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

A visit to Beauly and an encounter with the lovely Beauly sycamore. Sadly it's much older neighbour, the Beauly elm, collapsed 2 years ago, but its legacy is recorded by Isabel McLeish www.isabelmcleish.com/art/wych-elm.... You can view a 3d model of the 800yo elm here sketchfab.com/3d-models/be...

A large, open-grown and spreading sycamore tree of over 200 years, in a cemetery. Its short trunk supports several upswept limbs.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Recent trip to Shetland and an excursion with Seabirds-and-Seals Original Noss Boat. Spectacular seabird colonies on Noss, here are a few gannets that posed obligingly.

A gannet soaring with wide stretched wings against a dark sky

A pair of gannets on a rock with necks stretched upwards and bills crossed.

A pair of gannets on a rock in an embrace, heads together.

A gannet in flight, side view, wings in a slight downward flap showing black wing tops and yellow head

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

I had a visit to the Shetland Islands, never really had the desire to go to a treeless landscape, but was needed to help out. Whilst much is sheep-ravaged, the coastline and seabirds are quite spectacular.

Sea stacks, caves and cliffs at Esha Ness, Shetland

A natural rock arch and cliffs rising from a blue sea, Esha Ness, Shetland

Rock stacks rising from a blue sea, with hundreds of gannets crammed into their breeding sites. Herma Ness, Shetland.

GB's most northerly point at Muckle Flugga, with its lighthouse perched on the rocks emerging from the sea.

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Reposted by Alan Motion

Rich Doak Photo @richdoak.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

An image I made yesterday. I stumbled into this area of woodland littered with these huge ancient and veteran Beech trees! Cannot wait to see these in Autumn! #woodland #photography

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Spent a fine couple of days at Calgary, Mull over the weekend. The Island's residents were very accommodating.

An otter standing on a rock with his nose touching the sea.

A white tailed eagle in flight over a field

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Before the COVID pandemic the thought of a walk in the woods to smell the bluebells filled me with dread. As a forester hugely overworked, the woods were the last place I wanted to be. Retired now. My mojo is back. #Aberfoyle #QueenElizabethForestPark

A sea of bluebells in flower in a woodland clearing

A red squirrel leaping across the ground

Two red squirrels running head first down a Scots pine tree, on opposite sides of the stem

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Today at Balfron GC, I'll never tire of the views. Spent quite a bit of time admiring the scenery because my golf wasn't worth looking at.

3rd green at Balfron looking towards Ben Lomond and The Trossachs. Man putting.

13th green at Balfron golf club, with Ben Lomond and the Trossachs hills on the horizon.

Viewpoint cairn at 13th green on Balfron Golf club, looking towards Ben Lomond.

The 15th fairway at Balfron golf club, a snaking burn along the left edge, and the hill Dumgoyne on the horizon.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

That's another 14 #stgaguides through cpd on Scotland's forest history. That makes 97 total, and £950 to #TreeAid. Great interaction. A nod to @dendrochronicle.bsky.social for keeping me right on medieval timber use. #Dunkeld #Birnam #Macbeth

A group of Scottish Blue Badge Tourist Guides standing beneath the 500 year old Birnam Oak, made famous by Shakespeare's Macbeth.

A group of Scottish Blue Badge Tourist Guides standing next to the Parent Larch near Dunkeld Cathedral. Planted in 1738 and used by the Planting Dukes of Atholl to raise and plant 20m trees over 15000 acres between 1760-1830. The cradle of Scottish forestry.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Swans at #HogganfieldLoch #Glasgow. In the early 90s this park was sterile mown grass. The mosaic of habitats now provides home to loads of wildlife. The late Ian Gibson @scottishbirding.bsky.social was largely responsible for the rewilding, before it was a thing.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

I know I'm supposed to be retired, but one last survey of #StirlingUni campus after Storm Whatsitsname needed to be done (aren't storm names supposed to be memorable?). Great to see that the old oaks have all survived intact.

2 veteran oak trees in a field with Airthrey Castle in the background at Stirling University.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Landing gear down, air brakes applied.

A whooper swan about to land at Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

This tickled me. Leading a walk into Birnam Wood towards the Birnam Oak. #Shakespeare would approve, I'm sure. #Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Today was my first day this year back at one of my favourite locations, #Dunkeld and #Birnam, the cradle of Scottish forestry. Talking about Scotland's woodland history to 16 #STGA Blue Badge Tourist Guides. Raising money for #TreeAid, and having a blast.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Snapped this little egret yesterday @rspbscotland.bsky.social Loch Leven. The great white egret was too far away for a decent photo.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Took a wander up to the monument commemorating the wonderfully named Onesiphorus Tyndall Bruce, hereditary keeper of Falkland Palace, 1828, and the laird who first afforested the Lomond Hills. I like the dedication to the #foresters who followed in his footsteps.

Commemorative plaque on a stone monument

A columnar stone tower with commemorative inscription

A columnar stone tower viewed from a distance over heather moorland and young tree planting

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Movies you've watched more than six times, gifs only

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

The twisted, spiral stems of Tree Heather, Erica arborea, in the Laurisilva forest of Madeira. Amazing primordial ecosystem.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

It was difficult to find the little white ball today, so gave up trying and just took in the views instead #Balfrongolf #treeoftheday

A lone hawthorn tree on a frost covered golf course

Snow covered Campsite Fells viewed from a frosty Balfron golf course

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Apparently, my daughter has purchased a fake Xmas tree that has both cones and berries. This is offensive on so many levels. #pedanticforester

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I hope everyone has a very peaceful Christmas, however or whether you mark the day. Here's a seasonal ancient sessile oak from #Balfron #Stirlingshire, nearly 500 years old.

Black and white image of a short stout bole sessile oak, with iron bands around the stem.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

This is a good synopsis of current work and future hope for the UK's Ash population. Ash dieback experts identify shoots of hope for Britain’s threatened trees www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Ash dieback experts identify shoots of hope for Britain’s threatened trees

As the deadly fungal disease tightens its grip, scientific efforts to protect ash trees are advancing

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

End of an era at Balfron GC, too late to change our minds now. New clubhouse emerging Jan-May '25. Until then, there are no loos, so go before you go.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Jings it's cold. It was a foggy day today in #Buchlyvie, but get clear of that and there are views to be had.

A common lime tree by a road, white with hoar frost, against a blue sky.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

This was a great project to be involved with. Careful planning and construction within a SAC & SSSI to minimise impact on trees, ground flora and geology. Excellent outcome IMO. #LochKatrine #Trossachs where Scottish tourism started.

Stone stepped path through ancient woodland

Timber and steel viewpoint tower in woodland

View of Loch Katrine from tower in woodland

Timber and steel tower construction in woodland

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Following up on @rewildscotland.bsky.social post, this is a site on the island of Jura. Fenced off from deer and goats about 20 years ago, that's all it took to allow this woodland to grow. What Scotland could look like with fewer deer and sheep.

Woodland growing within a fenced area set in heavily grazed surroundings.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

This is something I never knew. Thing is, whenever I think of Brazil nuts, I'm reminded of Charley's Aunt, by Brandon Thomas, and that line: "Brazil, where the nuts come from." Probably just me.

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Alan Motion @fairlieman.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Brilliant performance by Jamie Cullum and friends at the SEC Armadillo tonight. Had the place jumping, then silenced with his jazz mastery.

Jamie Cullum at the piano, with band members gathered round.

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