Brae of Towie
Tree Planting in Aberdeenshire at Brae of Towie
Brae of Towie is a 28-acre, degraded Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland in Aberdeenshire. Brae New World is the conservation project working to revive the woodland and create wildlife corridors to other woodland patches in the surrounding area.
IMPORTANT VISITOR INFO – Take only photos. Leave only footsteps.
To keep the woodland as natural as possible we don’t label individual trees and we ask that visitors do not place their own plaques, labels, flowers, etc in the woodland. Each tree we plant should be seen as part of a natural woodland.
Before visiting this woodland, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page, which gives you helpful tips about your tree and visitor guidance.
Brae of Towie is home to a number of protected species. Visitors are always welcome by appointment. Please email braenewworld@ziggyswish.com to make an appointment.
This fully off-grid project was started in 2021 and is managed by social enterprise Ziggy’s Wish. Local stays are possible for groups looking to benefit from time spent in the woodland, with many flexible options for talks, tours and workshops.
In Scotland, ancient woodland is defined as land that is currently wooded and has been continually wooded, at least since 1750. Semi-natural refers to ancient woodland that, through human intervention, has experienced some change in woodland structure and species composition.
Brae of Towie has been weakened by centuries of cutting and clearing, resulting in large areas of the brae becoming dominated by gorse and bracken. Now, with the help of EFORESTS, a dedicated tree-planting program is underway: encouraging a variety of native and wild fruiting tree species throughout the site, and helping to restore the richer, more diverse flora and fauna that the Brae of Towie woodland would once have enjoyed.
As you walk down the track towards the tree planting areas, the dominance of the gorse trees does have a couple of benefits in the summer. A sea of vibrant yellow flowers envelopes the hillside and the amazing fragrance of the gorse flowers, which resembles coconut, fills the air.
The newly planted trees are thriving among the bracken and, in many areas where the bracken has been beaten back, bluebells and other flowers are starting to appear - thanks to the increased daylight on the soil.
The site has a copse of mature silver birch trees, where bilberries are growing on the woodland floor, as well as a small area of wetland near the underground spring. Here the common alder saplings and willow are thriving.
There are a number of badger sets on the land and their tracks can be seen among the bracken.
The newly planted trees over the past couple of years will increase the biodiversity of the land as well as providing food and shelter for wildlife.
Brae of Towie is home to a number of protected species. Visitors are always welcome by appointment. Please email braenewworld@ziggyswish.com to make an appointment.
Photo Gallery
Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Trees In Shelters Growing Among The Wildflowers – JUNE 2023 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Cherry Plum And Small Leaved Lime Trees In Shelters – JUNE 2023 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Wild Cherry Tree In Shelter Growing Among The Gorse And Wildflowers – JUNE 2023 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Gorse And Bracken Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Newly Planted Trees In The Woodland Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Newly Planted Trees Among The Gorse Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Newly Planted Trees In Shelters Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Planting New Trees In The Woodland Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Volunteers Prepare Shelters To Protect The Trees Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – A Rowan Tree Sapling Is Now Towering Above The Gorse – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Clearing The Bracken And Planting Trees In Shelters Has Provided Light For Bluebells To Grow – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Hazel Tree Sapling Thriving In Its Shelter Surrounded By The Sea Of Fragrant Yellow Gorse Flowers – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Newly Planted Tree Saplings Thriving In Their Shelters With Far Reaching Views Across The Countryside – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Oak Tree Thriving In Its Shelter Among The Bracken And Gorse – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Slow Growing Juniper Trees Are Doing Well In Their Shelters – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Trees Growing In Shelters On The Hillside With Far Reaching Countryside Views – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Wild Cherry And Willow Trees Thriving In Their Shelters – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Wild Cherry Tree Thriving In Its Shelter – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Wild Service Trees And Guelder Rose Trees Growing In Shelters Among The Gorse – MAY 2024 Brae Of Towie – Aberdeenshire – Willow Trees Are Growing Well In Their Shelters On The Hillside Of Gorse – MAY 2024
Tree Species at Brae of Towie
Since 2022 EFORESTS has worked with the land owners and local volunteers to plant 675 new native tree species.
The following tree species were planted on the site:
Address
Brae of TowieCullen, Buckie
Aberdeenshire
AB56 4TA
Map
External links
http://www.ziggyswish.com/EFORESTS is not responsible for the content on external websites.
IMPORTANT VISITOR INFO – Take only photos. Leave only footsteps.
To keep the woodland as natural as possible we don’t label individual trees and we ask that visitors do not place their own plaques, labels, flowers, etc in the woodland. Each tree we plant should be seen as part of a natural woodland.
Before visiting this woodland, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page, which gives you helpful tips about your tree and visitor guidance.
Dedicate a tree to be planted in Aberdeenshire or elsewhere in the UK.