Recovery of vegetation in a Caledonian pinewood after fire

Summary

Following a wildfire in the Caledonian pinewood at Shieldaig, Wester Ross in late March 1974, the recovery of the vegetation, particularly Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings, was monitored in twenty sample plots. Almost all trees under 5 cm diameter at breast height were immediately killed by the fire and of the larger trees, 45 per cent of the Scots pine and 60 per cent of the birch (Betula pendula) had died by 1980. Regeneration of Scots pine had occurred to the extent of about 2,500 seedlings ha^-1 by 1980. Recovery of the field layer species varied; species with rhizomes grew up quickly but the re-establishment of cover by Calluna vulgaris and many bryophytes was slow.