Kilted Ascent of the Maiden Paps

[gordontaos]

Thanks for the photos, and also the information on the "catrail"!

[Alan H]

I also noticed the trees planted in perfect rows. That's not a natural forest, at all.

Nice view, anyway, though!

[Jock Scot]

I also noticed the trees planted in perfect rows. That's not a natural forest, at all.

Nice view, anyway, though!

After two World Wars there was very little natural woodland left. A major replanting exercise took place immediately after WW2 partly to employ demobilised servicemen and of course replace what had been lost. This re-planting of old woodland and planting of new forest(often on unsuitable ground) continued well into the 1970's. The softwood woodland planted in the late 40's and early 1950's are now being harvested.Sadly very little hardwood was planted, but I understand that the new plantings of trees will contain a far larger proportion of hardwood.

[Mike_Oettle]

Some very fine scenery you have there, Alex.
That is, apart from the overly regimented forests!
I am glad to hear that more hardwood is being planted. In South Africa there is a tendency to plant only pine trees (which are alien invaders) and bluegums (which besides being invaders, are ruthless stealers of groundwater), and to leave the indigenous forest species to fend for themselves.
The indigenous include some excellent hardwoods, such as yellowwood and stinkwood. But they were over-exploited in the past, and now fetch fantastic prices on strictly controlled government auctions.
Incidentally, Lesotho has a pair of hills that have a Sesotho name that means “the maiden’s breasts”.
Regards,
Mike