A forest of flowers at Geordie's Wood
It may have been a grey summer but the hillside of Geordie’s Wood is covered in a blanket of colour. The hillside is awash with reds, blues and white from the mixture of poppies, mayweed and cornflower which were planted last autumn.
The forest of flowers at Geordie’s Wood is part of the Woodland Trust Scotland’s innovative project which will transform 23 hectares of agricultural land into a wood and wildflower habitat. The project uses a technique developed by Landlife1 which encourages wild flowers to flourish while invasive weeds struggle to grow.
Philip Gordon the Trust’s site manager said “ The first phase of the project has produced fantastic results. On the rare sunny days we have had this summer it is possible to see bees searching for pollen on almost every flower. I look forward to seeing what future years bring. “
The Trust will be sowing more wildflower seeds this autumn and members of the public are invited to lend a helping hand. Muckhart Nature Park will host a festival celebrating woodland on the 22nd September. If you want to help transform the landscape why not come along and help plant a few seed and a couple of trees as well. There will be plenty of fun activities for all the family.
The Forest of Flowers project is funded through grants from Heritage Lottery Fund and the Biodiversity Action Grant Scheme which is jointly funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Executive.
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
Jacqui Morris on 01355 578777 or mobile 07979 706675 alternatively call The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail
media@woodlandtrust.org.ukThe Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. In the last 25 years the Trust has increased its holdings in Scotland it now owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,500 hectares. Further news can be accessed via this website.
Geordie’s Wood
Geordie’s wood is a 235 hectare area of improved grassland, rough hill grazing and exotic conifer woodland. It was purchased by the Woodland Trust in 2004, with support from BP through the Scottish Forest Alliance (SFA), Forestry Commission Scotland and the active support of the local community, for the purpose of working with them to create a mosaic of new native woodland and open ground habitats to promote public access. It is located near Muckhart, by Dollar, 15 miles southwest of Perth on the southern edge of the Ochil Hills.