Scots pine -Pinus sylvestris- once these trees covered huge tracts of the Scottish landscape but since the Middle ages and the industrial revolution centuries later the majority have been felled, the largest number of remaining trees are found in the north east region where there are better climatic conditions for the growth of trees in comparison to the north west. Unfortunately because this is a b&w photo you cannot see the red coloured trunk and branches and the dark green canope. To regenerate and grow properly these forests need to be in areas where sheep and deer are fenced out and where there is less burning.

Natural Woodland is a mixture of different indigenous varieties, these are small in number in comparison with the past, this mixture of trees contain hundreds of different eco systems that provide the living enviroment to a multitude of species of plant, insect and animal life. The survival of the remaining Woodland depends almost entirely on land management so therefore it is dependant on whether the landowner wants to make money or is willing to spend money on it's protection and management. Some of these woods are however protected by several different gouvernment and wildlife protection agencies which provide grants of money ect.

Yellow mountain saxifrage -Saxifraga aizoides- flowering in june or july the rare Yellow mountain saxifrage adds a splendid burst of bright colour and brings a summer feeling to the shadowy grey and dark cliffs and mountains. This delicate wild flower is dependant on water with quite a high lime content. It is found in areas of lime rich rock where there is enough soil for roots and a reasonable supply of water which is not a problem anywhere in Scotland especially in the north west and mountainous areas .The rocky cracks in which the seeds germinate contain enough nutrients for the flowers to flourish well.

purple saxifrage -Saxifraga oppositifolia- This bright and colourfull arctic-alpine wild flower commonly brightens the hills of the highlands in April and like the Yellow saxifrage it is dependant on lime rich water found on high heath, stoney ground and places such as Ben Alder, Glen clova and Caenlochan which are all lime rich areas and areas where carpets and clumps of this flower can be seen enjoyed and often in areas that would normally seem to be very baron, empty and desolate and bereft of any colourfull life at all.

starry saxifrage -Saxifraga cepitosa- another of the same familly of arctic-alpine flowers the starry saxifrage with it's delicate and colourfull petels needs all the same nutrition as the others but prefers damp, wetter north-facing ground next to mountain streams to in which to flourish. It is often astonishing how these fragile plants manage to sustain themselves in the high winds, frost and snowy conditions of the highlands. It seems however that contrary to their look's they are adaptaple and hardy flowers.

Scottish primrose -Primula scotia- which is the adopted symbol of the Scottish wildlife trust, and just to look at it you know exactly why it was chosen among the countless other avaliable species of plant and wildlife. As well as being a rare wild flower it is also a most outstanding, beautiful and stunning sight with it's bold and contrasting colours, a beacon for insects to pollinate as it projects itself so obviously from amongst the green foliage and the criss-cross of dull bracken that surrounds it.

mountain azalea -Loiseleuria procumbens- In order for it to survive the harshness of the climate and conditions in the highlands the mountain azalea has adapted a clever way to survive and continue, instead of just growing upwards and being blown away it remains close to the ground and spreads outwards always remaining prone to the ground and therefore leaving the flowers better protected from the strong gale force winds, frosty and cold conditions, which are all to often a daily occurrence.