A Place to Grow
The seed falls from the tree, caught by the wind it drifts across the loch, resting gently on fresh ground.
Dalerb. Soon to be the new home of the Scottish Crannog Centre, nestled on the North bank of Loch Tay. Just under 4 hectares, the site comprises a small car park and picnic area shaded by trees with a beach stretching along the length next to the loch. As we look forward to the new development, a lot of work has been done to ensure that our impact on our new home is as small as possible and we find ways to work with nature where we can.
There are some stunning trees at Dalerb, my favourite being a large Ash on the western edge of the site. There is also beech, hazel, sycamore, willow, and alder. Each of these species is an important part of the local ecosystem, providing food and shelter for insects, birds, and small mammals such as red squirrels.
To protect these valuable assets, a tree survey was conducted which identified the species, health, and size. In all 328 individual trees were identified, and this information was then used by the architects in planning our new home to best incorporate our natural assets and creating a unique visitor experience. The plan below gives an idea of how the trees are part of the Dalerb design.
The trees are also a connection to the past. From the excavation of the Crannog at Oakbank we found the crannog was constructed using alder, oak, and pine timbers. We also found evidence of hazel being used there. The tree species at Dalerb would have been known by the Crannog dwellers and been a part of their everyday life, a small connection from the past to the present.
