NS1988 : Monkey Puzzle trees in Stronvochlan Wood
taken 4 years ago, near to Barnacabber, Argyll And Bute, Scotland
The small clump of Monkey Puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana) by the side of the forest road provide a welcome break from the ubiquitous swathes of commercially planted fir trees.
Normally planted as ornaments, it is not known how they came to be here, on an otherwise bland hillside above Ardentinny on the west side of Loch Long.
At the time of my visit in late December 2019, some of the Monkey Puzzle trees had been badly damaged, perhaps by falling trees of other species. Many branches were lying on the ground and some had been sawn, suggesting that they perhaps had been blocking the road after falling.