Latest News

A selection of language-related news. Does not claim to be comprehensive or represent the views of SCILT.

Map reveals ancient Scottish forests that left only their names behind

30 August 2024 (Yahoo News)

They are the ancient names of Scotland’s wild place, though many have been lost beneath urban sprawl or obscured to the mists of time.

But now a project is making the country’s forgotten forests visible again, helping people to better understand the landscape and its relationship to nature.

A map is being dawn up identifying all the places whose names reflect historic woods and trees, which are often derived from Gaelic, Norse, Scots and possibly the language of the Picts.

The scheme, dubbed Forgotten Woodlands, is being a partnership between NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland and Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - the national advisory partnership for Gaelic place-names.

It has set out to map all Scottish place-names with the potential to reveal their historical woodland coverage, hopefully inspiring landowners and communities to think of the native trees their land used to support, and consider how they might wish to restore its ecological value for the future.

Read More...

University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages