Scotland's Native Trees and Shrubs
Minister's foreword
Scotland's landscape enriches the lives of all who experience it. It is outstanding in its diversity. The sheer variety and composition of the landscape, as well as the way it is perceived to have influenced history, culture and tradition, attract many visitors to Scotland. The view from the road can change dramatically in a matter of minutes.
Our native trees and shrubs, whether standing alone and defiant against the elements or sharing woodland and forest shelters, play a defining role in Scotland's landscape. Because the Scottish Executive plants many thousands of trees and shrubs each year as it develops the country's inter-urban transport infrastructure, we have a responsibility not only to ensure that local landscape character is preserved but also to see that it is enhanced wherever possible. Thus we have a keen interest in the use of native species.
It is important that species are matched to location and that every opportunity to add value is taken by designers through the enhancement of local landscape character. Many individual native species are not readily available in the market place and this affects their inclusion in landscape design. An opportunity exists for the horticultural industry and the Scottish Executive to work together to create opportunities for rural enterprise through the collection, processing and selling of seed and the growing of Scottish native trees.
The purpose of this publication is to improve the quality and application of the Executive's landscape design and management policy document, 'Cost Effective Landscape: Learning from Nature,' and to promote the use of Scotland's native trees and shrubs grown from locally collected Scottish seed. I hope that it will encourage landscape designers to learn more about our native species, to develop a deeper relationship with them, explore new ideas and derive even more enjoyment from the design process.
I commend this publication and the practical guidance it offers. I hope that it is widely used by practitioners, others with an interest in landscape design and all those who have a responsibility for influencing development in the countryside.
Lewis Macdonald MSP
Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning