A few weeks back we were joined by a team of young people led by Able 2 Adventure, a mobile outdoor activity provider for people of all ages and abilities based in the Cairngorms National Park. 

They were with us to learn more about the work in the Tree Nursery as well as the wider projects across RSPB Scotland Abernethy National Nature Reserve and the Cairngorms Connect Partnership . After a quick tour, we filled two vehicles and headed out to do some work.

^{The group in Abernethy Forest © Able 2 Adventure}

On the way up our hill track, we had a short pause to look at the impact from our seasonal grazing of cattle. The grazing cattle mimic the effect of extinct large herbivores by creating disturbances to the field-layer . These disturbances are a normal function of a healthy habitat, and certain species that survive in native woodlands are adapted to exploit and benefit from these ecological processes.  

^{Two volunteers taking Eared Willow cuttings © Able 2 Adventure}

We then stopped at some Eared Willow bushes. Eared Willow (Salix Aurita) is a small tree or shrub that grows in a number of locations across the reserve and is  something that we’d like to have a lot more of. It’s a hardy plant that can be grown either from seed, or from taking cuttings. This is when we cut off a branch, ideally of around pencil thickness and then cut it again to a length of about 20 cm. The bottom cut is flat, and the top cut is made at an angle just above where there is a bud.

The Able 2 Adventure group processed a few hundred cuttings from just a few bushes which we bundled up and transported to the top of our hill track.

^{Planting out willow cuttings © Able 2 Adventure}

After lunch the group planted the cuttings at random spacings by pushing the bottom (the flat end!) a few inches into the earth. The miraculous thing about willow is that it can sprout new roots and new leaves from a cutting like this!

After planting, we headed back down the hill track before saying goodbye to the group. A very big thanks to all involved.

Interested in volunteering at the Tree Nursery? Find out more here.

Able 2 Adventure aim to deliver outdoor activities for people of all abilities that are inspiring, engaging, compassionate and supportive of everyone’s needs. They  actively seek to increase opportunities to access adventurous activities through the provision of workshops, consultancy and partnership delivery. Able 2 Adventure strive to develop long term pathways into disability adventure sports through clubs and skills focused programs. Find out more here.