A walk on the wild side

At this time of year Scotland is ablaze with wild flowers. Lindsay Mackinlay explains what you should be looking for

Scotland is quite rightly famous for its whisky, its rebellious history, lochs, hills and the hospitality of its people.

It is less well known for the beauty and diversity of its wildflowers, yet there is a floristic treasure trove to be discovered by those who look into the wet bog or the wood as they admire the sweeping vistas so typical of the country.

There are good reasons for Scotland having a wealth of wildflowers. Past volcanic activity – the massive movements of the sea and the powerful action of the glaciers - have shaped the rocks, the soil and ultimately the landscape and its wildflower communities.

These communities have since been shaped by Scotland's climate. The west, where the land meets the Atlantic Ocean, is generally wetter than the east, which sits in a rain shadow caused by the Highland mountains. These ancient hills, some of the oldest in Europe, force the Atlantic clouds to deposit their rain on the land before they can head into eastern Scotland and beyond.

Humans have also put their footprint on the land through ploughing the soil and grazing their animals. The overall result of all these processes? A rich tapestry of colour and texture ranging from the coastal machair lands of the Outer Hebrides to the peaty bogs of the Highlands to the more tranquil woodlands and meadows of the lowlands. Each has its own mix of wildflowers.

The best time to experience wildflowers in Scotland sits between the beginning of May and the middle of September, with...

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• By : Lindsay Mackinlay
• In : Wildlife
• Issue : 20
• Page : 50
• Words : 1,779