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The River
Dulnain acts as the county boundary at this point. Most
of the village of Dulnain Bridge is to the north of the
river and therefore in Morayshire, whereas Curr Wood is
just to the south falling into Inverness-shire.
Backing right up to Auchendean's garden, Curr Wood is
one of the most mature stands of wood in Strathspey, with
significant wildlife interest, including the Red Squirrel,
Roe Deer, Pine Martins, Crested Tits, Crossbills, Capercaillie,
and with over 40 plants has the country's greatest population
of the otherwise very rare Twinflower. There are only
16 elsewhere! In addition, a small creeping orchid |
| Jock enjoys Curr
Wood 1992 |
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| called Creeping
Ladies Tresses thrives as does Chickweed Wintergreen. There is
a patch of white flowered heather, and the only Golden Scots Pine
that I know of grows near Broomhill. No forester or plantsman
that I mention this toknows of it, and the only reference I can
find to this species is in the book 'In the shadow of the Cairngorms'
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Winter outlines
the trees |
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which notes
that the rare variegated fir exists in the forest around
here "with it's golden needles" Curr Wood was
first felled back in the 17century and re-planted with
scots pines from Abernethy seed, which being only just
a mile away, is possibly the same genetic pool as the
original? Another felling in the 1880's allowed the present
trees to naturally regenerate.
In 2001Curr Wood was designated
an Important Fungal Area, having several very rare - possibly
unrecorded - species of fungi. There are unusual mosses;
rare lichens
and very rare hoverflies. -
and the investigation has only just begun.
Sadly, despite these interests, a major
thinning was undertaken in March 2001 which finished after
three tranches a year later. This will inevitably have
a major effect on the inhabitants of the wood for years
to come, but once the initial felling mess has disappeared
and the regrowth started, the wood will again
give wonderful opportunities to appreciate
all those things that this part of the Highlands of Scotland
has to offer. |
The
new owner is keen to re-instate the wood to its former
glory through carefully managed regrowth. This should
ensure that the wood feels less like a managed wood.
Hopefully some of the species will survive to see
it happen!
For more information
on some of the species in Curr Wood, click here
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1992,
pre thinning and pre clearing
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