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Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of Britain

Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of the British Isles

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Open Country: Ben Shieldaig

Ben Shieldaig

BBC Radio 4 - Open Country, Ben Shieldaig

Helen Mark learns about a Scottish mountain and the village that nestles in it's shadow.

Ben Shieldaig is a mountain on the West Coast of Scotland which harbours a rare patch of temperate rainforest. Unable to leave her home in lockdown, Helen Mark gets a virtual tour.

On the West Coast of Scotland, the village of Shieldaig nestles in the shadow of a mountain. On the steep sides of Ben Shieldaig is a very rare habitat called temperate rainforest. Under the trees the air is humid and the rocks are soft with moss.

Recently, the mountain has been bought by the Woodland Trust, which aims to cover the whole area in trees through a combination of natural regeneration and some planting.

Unable to leave her home in lockdown, Helen Mark meets locals online for a virtual tour of this magical place. She learns about the history of the village and its once isolated community, and find out what the future will hold.

Produced by Heather Simons
Image : Steve Carter

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