This year being the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s 50th Anniversary, we and I’m sure our veteran osprey are thrilled that this iconic Scots Pine tree has won this award. 

A reminder why this Scots Pine is a worthy Winner:

The Scots Pine is native to the Highlands of Scotland and is the largest and longest-lived tree in the Caledonian Forest. Its conservation status is recovering with regeneration now starting to occur, especially in areas fenced off from browsing deer.

This particular Scots Pine at Loch of Lowes is over 60 feet tall and was chosen by our famous Osprey affectionately known as ‘Lady’, as her home. It also forms the foundations for a variety of other species that depend upon it in many ways. Playing host to Stump Lichens and Scottish Wood Ants that live on and under the bark, a shelter for deer, shade for flowers, home and food for red squirrels and in pride of place up top, our majestic Ospreys that nest in its level branches.

It’s part of a conservation success story! For the past 24 years ‘Lady’ has returned to nest in this Scots Pine tree on our nature reserve at Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, Perthshire. During this time she has laid 71 eggs and fledged 50 chicks. This is truly remarkable and the safety provided by the Scots pine in all weather has surely played a part in that success. Our 24hr HD webcam on the tree attracts over 1 million viewers a year in over 160 different countries.

This Scots Pine has been fundamental in the success of our breeding osprey programme here at Loch of the Lowes and as such this tremendous tree and our Osprey deserve to be equally famous.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust would like to thank players of the People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting this competition and helping conservation charities like the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust to protect wildlife and wild places for future generations. Scottish Wildlife Trust would also like to thank all our supporters from reserve staff and volunteers to visitors, web cam watchers and avid blog readers; we hope you continue to enjoy this wonderful Tree and all the nature on, in and around it!

Sarah Close
Visitor Centre Assistant