New Tree Trail at Bowhill

Richard 10th Duke of Buccleuch opened the new tree trail for visitors at Bowhill on Tuesday 8th April. Duke Richard planted the Wollemi Pine with Ann Fraser from the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association. The Wollemi Pine was a gift to the 9th Duke of Buccleuch by the European Squirrel Initiative, represented on the day by Andy Wiseman, for work done towards the conservation of red squirrels.

The Pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest plants dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. With less than 100 adult trees known to exist in the wild, the Wollemi Pine is now the focus of extensive research and conservation to safeguard its survival.

Duke Richard stated “ I am delighted that in planting this tree we are making a contribution to the comeback of a tree species that was thought to be extinct for 2 million years.”

On the 2 mile long trail, visitors will be led to 16 trees within the hugely diverse and beautiful woodlands of Bowhill. The trees range from the young but very rare Wollemi Pine to three spectacular Beech planted by Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch. As the trail winds its way through the woods, visitors will be offered spectacular views over the house, lochs and surrounding landscape of the Ettrick Valley once part of the royal hunting forests of the Kings of Scotland.

Successive Dukes of Buccleuch have built an internationally renowned reputation for their tree and woodland management and continue to make a major contribution to forest research and tree conservation across all the Buccleuch properties.

The Buccleuch family have and continue to care for the woodlands of the estates with passion, respect and responsibility .With the trail highlighting a tiny sample of the huge diversity of trees on the estate, it is hoped that visitors of all ages will be inspired to explore and better appreciate some of the hidden gems of Bowhill that in the words of the 9th Duke of Buccleuch, ‘refresh the soul of man’.