Rothiemurchus participates in a study looking at the relationship between soils and surface vegetation

Rothiemurchus has recently been poked and prodded by a team of Nottingham University PhD students who are looking across the Cairngorms at the relationship between soils and surface vegetation, plus other factors that affect the diversity of the species growing on the site.

Here they are using a 6cm soil auger to take soil samples while also identifying the different species of plants growing in the sample area, how deep they root, how tall they grow. The soil sample clearly shows the top, relatively thin layer of black, peaty topsoil overlying the rusty, oxidised, gravelly subsoil. Typical of an acidic podzol. These soils are too acidic for earthworms but provide suitable growing conditions for heather, Scots pine and juniper, plus a few grass species that can tolerate the low ph.

Rothiemurchus is pleased to be able to facilitate such research as it all helps our understanding of the land, what lives here and how we interact with it.