ForestHarvest :   non-timber forest products in Scotland

Upland mixed ash woodland

Upland mixed ash woods are most often found in gullies and gorges, or on outcrops of limestone and other alkaline soils. They may be continuous with other tracts of broadleaved woodland, such as oakwoods. As well as ash, which tends to dominate the canopy, downy birch, rowan, wych elm and oak are often found in these woods. Hazel and hawthorn are generally present in the understorey.

• These woods are often found in association with nutrient-rich (alkaline) flushes.
• They tend to be more species rich than the upland oakwoods. Mosses, liverworts and lichens may be abundant, and primroses and bluebells may appear in the spring.
• A few rare plants are also associated with these woodlands, and they can also provide important refuges for birds in otherwise treeless landscapes.
• Though mainly found in southern Scotland (e.g. in the Clyde Valley), there are some notable examples on Skye and Wester Ross (Raasal Wood).

What to find in a mixed ash woodland

Ash

Birch

Hazel

Hawthorn