Magical' mushroom mix to boost regrowth of lost Scottish forests

Return of Great Caledonian forest speeded up with fungi spores to help saplings flourish

Damian Carrington Environment editor

@dpcarrington
Fri 20 Apr 2018 01.30 EDT

The return of the Great Caledonian forest that once covered much of Scotland’s highlands is being boosted with a special mix of mushroom spores that should help saplings survive better on the hills.

Fungi living on the roots of trees play a vital role in the ecology, helping to break down nutrients in the soil. But trees were lost in much of the Highlands many years ago so the fungi vanished too.

The new project, run by , is adding the spores when young trees are planted.

“In the tough, windswept, environments where we plant, newly planted trees need all the help they can get – especially in their early years,” said Doug Gilbert, from the charity, at the Dundreggan estate in Glenmoriston, near Loch Ness. “This magical mushroom mixture could speed up the return of the and its wildlife.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/20/magical-mushroom-mix-to-boost-regrowth-of-lost-scottish-forests