Rare moss only found in Cairngorms rescued from fallen tree

Conservationists have rescued a rare moss from a tree after it was blown down in a storm.

Aspen bristle-moss has only been found growing on 60 aspen trees in Britain - all of them in the Cairngorms in the Highlands.

The fallen tree supported 5% of the species' population and would have died out as the tree's bark deteriorated.

The charity Plantlife Scotland has led work to remove some of the moss and place it on 19 aspens near Aviemore.

Aspen bristle-moss was thought to be extinct in Britain before it was discovered growing on mature aspens in the Cairngorms.

Plantlife Scotland has been monitoring the species since 2024.

It worked with landowner Wildland, an organisation set up by Scotland's richest man Anders Holch Povlsen and his wife Anne, on the emergency translocation project.

Sam Jones, senior ecological advisor for Plantlife Scotland, said: "Aspen bristle-moss survives on a tiny number of suitable aspen trees, so when this one fell we risked losing a significant part of the known population in Scotland.

"This translocation gives us a chance to save that moss, learn what works and strengthen efforts to protect the species for the future."

Conservation work on the species is funded by NatureScot, Cairngorms National Park Authority and Swire Charitable Trust.