Abernethy forest, Cairngorms, Scotland
Abernethy is a 12,000-hectare nature reserve sitting within the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. It is a fine exemplar of the remaining Caledonian forests, featuring a few old "granny trees" amongst growth that is much, much younger and of a different character.
The RSPB manages the majority of the reserve with Scottish National Heritage (SNH) taking care of part of it. Abernethy is an important site for ancient Caledonian pine trees, and species such as capercaillie and crested tit.
Like most of Scotland’s native woods, Abernethy has suffered deforestation over the centuries. Sheep and deer browsing then conspired to prevent new tree growth. Blocks of commercial conifer plantations have been sown into areas where there would have been native woodland.