The spring 2026 issue of the Journal heads for the hills with a theme of Mountain Woodlands and an in-depth look at upland restoration in Scotland.
Sarah Watts discusses why the present state of mountain woodlands is not the key to understanding either past or future. We then hear from Diana Gilbert about the pioneers in the field, the Mountain Woodland Action Group. Innes Manders argues for giving mountain woodlands a helping hand by creating seed stands. John Holland and Philip Ashmole provide perspective from established projects at SRUC Kirkton and Auchtertyre Farms and Carrifran. We hear about three new landscape-scale upland restoration projects: Malcolm Turner details plans for the Woodland Trust’s Gleann Shìldeag, Christine Reid writes about Forestry and Land Scotland’s Glen Prosen project and Sam Buckland about the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Dalnacardoch estate. Gus Routledge updates us on the Mountain Birch Project, while Phil Knott puts the spotlight on the little-known rock whitebeam.
In our regular features, this issue’s Artist in Wood is furniture maker Angus Ross, Food from the Forest looks at heathland berries and the Beast of the Forest is the rock ptarmigan. Project Reports focus on coppicing with basketmakers All About Willow and traditional shingle-making by Owen Bushell. Our featured community woodland is Kilsture Forest, where citizen science is assessing woodland biodiversity. The Last Word is on the controversial topic of muirburn.
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