Alex Hamilton began his campaign at the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee earlier this year to highlight the importance of Scotland’s vast forests and woodlands. Mr Hamilton also took the opportunity to urge the public to vote for the Scots pine, stating the tree is “the most worthy symbol of our woodlands and of a modern Scotland”. Members of the public are able to vote for any tree they please, however the online consultation will set out presentations promoting the Scots pine, the rowan, the birch and the wych elm.

At the launch of the consultation in September, Environment Minister Paul Weelhouse backed Mr Hamilton’s campaign, stating it has never been more important than now to highlight the vital role trees play in Scottish life. He said: “Some of our woodlands are currently under threat from a number of serious tree health problems. A national tree could be a powerful symbol to help raise the profile of trees and their contribution to so many aspects of today’s society.”

Behold… the mighty rowan tree.

At ScotClans we’re backing the campaign by rooting for the rowan tree. The rowan is an incredibly important tree in Scottish folklore, and coincidentally can be found in a large number of clan badges. Wood from a rowan tree is also strong and resilient, and is the lumber of choice among carvers and whittlers. Rowan makes excellent walking sticks, and spindles and spinning wheels are traditionally made from its wood. It’s also no suprise that the berries can be made into or added to a variety of alcoholic beverages. As well as the popular rowan wine made in the Highlands, a strong spirit can be made from the berries, and rowan berry jelly is still served as an accompaniment to game dishes.

However in times gone by, the rowan was very sacred as it was believed it provided protection against witchcraft. According to Hugh Fife in his book Warriors and Guardians: Native Highland Trees: “Scottish tradition does not allow the use of the tree’s timber, bark, leaves or flowers, nor the cutting of these, except for sacred purposes under special conditions.” The physical characteristics of the tree may have contributed to its protective reputation, including the tiny five pointed star or pentagram on each berry opposite its stalk (the pentagram being an ancient protective symbol). The colour red was deemed to be the best protection against enchantment, and so the rowan’s vibrant display of berries in autumn may have further contributed to its protective abilities, as suggested in the old rhyme: “Rowan tree and red thread / make the witches tine (meaning ‘to lose’) their speed”.

A tree itself was said to afford protection to the dwelling by which it grew, pieces of the tree were carried or sewn into clothes for personal protection from witchcraft, and sprigs or pieces of rowan were used to protect especially cows and their dairy produce from enchantment. There are documented instances as late as the latter half of the twentieth century of people being warned against removing or damaging the rowan trees in the Scottish Highlands and Ireland.

The vibrant red berries of the rowan tree

Rowan (sometimes called Mountain Ash) is the badge of Clan Maclachlan and Clan Malcolm. A clan badge is usually a sprig of a specific plant used to identify a member of a particular clan. Badges are usually worn in a bonnet behind the Scottish crest badge, or attached at the shoulder of a lady’s tartan sash. Rowan is also important to Clan Urquhart, whose name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic Airchartdan. This has been variously translated as “upon a rowan wood” (copses of rowan trees are common in Glen Urquhart, the Clan’s place of origin according to oral tradition) and the “fort on the knoll,” perhaps alluding to Castle Urquhart or the previous neolithic forts upon which it was built.

We hope that you get behind us to make the rowan Scotland’s national tree. Voting is open now until early December and can be completed online, by e-mail or post. Check out the Scottish Forrest Commission’s consultation information page by clicking here. You can also view a video from the commission here which showcases the range of benefits Scotland’s forests bring.

The post Our Vote for Scotland’s National Tree appeared first on ScotClans | Scottish Clans.

It’s interesting to see how many crest use the image of a woman within them.

Think the Urquhart crest was most definitely designed by a man.

Here are the ones I have found:

Falconer Clan Crest

Glas Clan Crest

Lyon Clan Crest

Montgomery Clan Crest

Murray Clan Crest

Ogilvie Clan Crest

Preston Clan Crest

Urquhart Clan Crest

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Urquhart Castle

Way back in the days before Urquhart Castle existed in the days when the Great Glen was just starting to have settlers  – perhaps some of our Urquhart ancestors before the name of Urquhart was even spoken – and took advantage of its abundant food and resources. It was a fertile valley which made life easy.

Legend has it that these people had a magical well, a spring which Daly the Druid had made magical, which brought forth healing waters for all ills. There was a condition placed on using this magical well – after each use, the cover had to be placed back upon the well lest the well rise up and destroy the valley.

Alas, one day, a mother had removed the cover from the well and was drawing the magical water. Her baby started to cry and when she heard, like all good mothers, she went to her child’s aid. In her speed to do so, she neglected to replace the cover upon the magic well and although she may have had all intentions of doing so, by the time she realized she had left the cover off unattended, the well had turned into a roaring fountain of water, gushing forth water with such force that she had no option but to run with her baby, clambering up the sides of the valley.

The other settlers, seeing and hearing the great commotion and roaring of the water, also took to the paths up out of the valley, knowing that all was now lost. Their homes, possessions, but they escaped, all escaped I believe.

One of those who escaped, looking back at their great valley filling with water almost as fast as they could climb, cried out in disbelief and anguish “Tha loch ann a nis!” – which means “There is a lake in it now!” That great valley of the Great Glen, draws it’s name from those words “Loch ann a nis”: Loch Ness.

So, all I can say is this, if your over by Urquhart Castle having a look for Nessy, remember those waters around the Urquhart stronghold have magical healing properties, as I cannot find any reference to that healing well ever being covered again.

So it was that magical well and the careless action of that mother in haste, which produced the landscape and loch that Urquhart Castle took advantage of.

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