A few feathered friends from my trip to Shetland back in July. I love camera-shy Guillemot No 3.

Dodging downpours today @BalfronGolfClub.

Scotland has so much to be proud of. But there’s something missing – something extraordinary... More info www.scotlandbigpicture.com/lynx-to-scotland 🎶 by Beluga Lagoon, 🎬 SCOTLAND:The Big Picture

What is also needed is certainty of Scot Gov policy so that nurseries like this know there's an outlet for those trees in 3 years time. Cutting the forestry budget without forewarning is far from helpful.

Sunlight through paperbark maple, Acer griseum. I grew this from seed and planted it in 1999 when my red-haired lad was born.

Hello Bluesky 👋 Our digital presence is growing and we'll now be posting about ICF news, sector news, events and more from our new Bluesky account. Help us grow our Bluesky community by following us and engaging with our content.

@bsbibotany.bsky.social #Wildflowerhour #bythesea some Sea Rocket (Cakile maritime) and some Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides) I think. Both on Findhorn beach this week.

Hello @theicf.bsky.social, glad you've made it.

Took a walk into Glen Feshie today. Since Wildland took over and removed the intense deer browsing, the glen has undergone a rebirth. This is my tree of the day. A survivor from the past, amongst the new generation of Caledonian pine. Being there is good for the soul.

A visit to Beauly and an encounter with the lovely Beauly sycamore. Sadly it's much older neighbour, the Beauly elm, collapsed 2 years ago, but its legacy is recorded by Isabel McLeish www.isabelmcleish.com/art/wych-elm.... You can view a 3d model of the 800yo elm here sketchfab.com/3d-models/be...

Recent trip to Shetland and an excursion with Seabirds-and-Seals Original Noss Boat. Spectacular seabird colonies on Noss, here are a few gannets that posed obligingly.

I had a visit to the Shetland Islands, never really had the desire to go to a treeless landscape, but was needed to help out. Whilst much is sheep-ravaged, the coastline and seabirds are quite spectacular.

It's the 2024 vintage and as good as it always is @nakedwines.bsky.social #sunday #timeforwine

An image I made yesterday. I stumbled into this area of woodland littered with these huge ancient and veteran Beech trees! Cannot wait to see these in Autumn! #woodland #photography

Spent a fine couple of days at Calgary, Mull over the weekend. The Island's residents were very accommodating.

Before the COVID pandemic the thought of a walk in the woods to smell the bluebells filled me with dread. As a forester hugely overworked, the woods were the last place I wanted to be. Retired now. My mojo is back. #Aberfoyle #QueenElizabethForestPark

Today at Balfron GC, I'll never tire of the views. Spent quite a bit of time admiring the scenery because my golf wasn't worth looking at.

NEW: Council bosses have been accused of "butchering" a local beauty spot popular with hundreds of newlywed couples

That's another 14 #stgaguides through cpd on Scotland's forest history. That makes 97 total, and £950 to #TreeAid. Great interaction. A nod to @dendrochronicle.bsky.social for keeping me right on medieval timber use. #Dunkeld #Birnam #Macbeth

Swans at #HogganfieldLoch #Glasgow. In the early 90s this park was sterile mown grass. The mosaic of habitats now provides home to loads of wildlife. The late Ian Gibson @scottishbirding.bsky.social was largely responsible for the rewilding, before it was a thing.

I know I'm supposed to be retired, but one last survey of #StirlingUni campus after Storm Whatsitsname needed to be done (aren't storm names supposed to be memorable?). Great to see that the old oaks have all survived intact.

Landing gear down, air brakes applied.

This tickled me. Leading a walk into Birnam Wood towards the Birnam Oak. #Shakespeare would approve, I'm sure. #Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.

Today was my first day this year back at one of my favourite locations, #Dunkeld and #Birnam, the cradle of Scottish forestry. Talking about Scotland's woodland history to 16 #STGA Blue Badge Tourist Guides. Raising money for #TreeAid, and having a blast.

Snapped this little egret yesterday @rspbscotland.bsky.social Loch Leven. The great white egret was too far away for a decent photo.

Took a wander up to the monument commemorating the wonderfully named Onesiphorus Tyndall Bruce, hereditary keeper of Falkland Palace, 1828, and the laird who first afforested the Lomond Hills. I like the dedication to the #foresters who followed in his footsteps.

Movies you've watched more than six times, gifs only

The twisted, spiral stems of Tree Heather, Erica arborea, in the Laurisilva forest of Madeira. Amazing primordial ecosystem.

It was difficult to find the little white ball today, so gave up trying and just took in the views instead #Balfrongolf #treeoftheday

Apparently, my daughter has purchased a fake Xmas tree that has both cones and berries. This is offensive on so many levels. #pedanticforester

I hope everyone has a very peaceful Christmas, however or whether you mark the day. Here's a seasonal ancient sessile oak from #Balfron #Stirlingshire, nearly 500 years old.

This is a good synopsis of current work and future hope for the UK's Ash population. Ash dieback experts identify shoots of hope for Britain’s threatened trees www.theguardian.com/environment/...

End of an era at Balfron GC, too late to change our minds now. New clubhouse emerging Jan-May '25. Until then, there are no loos, so go before you go.

Jings it's cold. It was a foggy day today in #Buchlyvie, but get clear of that and there are views to be had.

This was a great project to be involved with. Careful planning and construction within a SAC & SSSI to minimise impact on trees, ground flora and geology. Excellent outcome IMO. #LochKatrine #Trossachs where Scottish tourism started.

Following up on @rewildscotland.bsky.social post, this is a site on the island of Jura. Fenced off from deer and goats about 20 years ago, that's all it took to allow this woodland to grow. What Scotland could look like with fewer deer and sheep.

This is something I never knew. Thing is, whenever I think of Brazil nuts, I'm reminded of Charley's Aunt, by Brandon Thomas, and that line: "Brazil, where the nuts come from." Probably just me.

Brilliant performance by Jamie Cullum and friends at the SEC Armadillo tonight. Had the place jumping, then silenced with his jazz mastery.

Simple little things that could quite easily spark an interest in trees, ecology, arboriculture. Inspiring the next generation of Chartered Arboriculturists. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Told you that would be intense. Great privilege to be involved in assessing 52 applicants with 40 assessors covering competencies as broad Miyawaki forest establishment to veteran tree management. Forestry is a very broad church. Time to take a breath.

Looking forward to 2 intense but hugely rewarding days as @theICF professional exams reach the interview stage. This year marks my 25th as part of the exam process, promoting the #CharteredForesters of tomorrow. My exam was a long time ago.

@andyheald.bsky.social about time.

A shameless plug for one of central Scotland's best golf courses, providing 360deg views of the Campsies, Trossachs and Ben Lomond landscape. It's a Community Amateur Sports Club providing affordable golf for all. Balfron Golf Society. Open all winter, no mats.

This is my home. #Buchlyvie in west rural Stirlingshire, looking out over Flanders Moss towards #BenLedi. Every day the light changes, but the view remains.

Following up a comment to @tomkimmerer.bsky.social here is one of the most famous trees in the English-speaking world. The Birnam Oak of Macbeth reference. It's my great pleasure to introduce many US visitors to it every year on their tour of Scotland. It's a mere 450 years old, barely middle-aged.

Back from a week in #Lisbon exploring the old city, but this building really stood out as an amazing piece of modern architecture. EDP HQ.

For a first post on here, might as well be a picture of a tree. A nice, old, hollow olive at Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon. Batteries recharged after a week in the sun.