Olister Dub Plantation

Wood, Forest in Berwickshire

Scotland

Olister Dub Plantation

Cottage at Blackburn Blackburn is a farm on the west side of the A68 near to Lauder; the cottage lies to the north of the farmhouse. — Cottage at Blackburn Credit: Trevor Littlewood

Olister Dub Plantation is a picturesque woodland located in the region of Berwickshire, Scotland. This beautiful forest covers an area of approximately 200 acres and is a haven for nature enthusiasts, hikers, and wildlife lovers.

The woodland is predominantly composed of native broadleaf trees such as oak, beech, and birch. These towering trees create a dense canopy that provides shade and shelter for a diverse range of flora and fauna. The forest floor is adorned with a rich carpet of mosses, ferns, and wildflowers, adding to its enchanting ambiance.

Several well-maintained trails wind through Olister Dub, offering visitors the opportunity to explore its beauty at their own pace. These paths meander through the woodland, crossing babbling streams and passing by small ponds. The tranquil atmosphere and the soothing sounds of nature make it an excellent location for leisurely walks, birdwatching, or simply enjoying a picnic amidst the serenity of the forest.

The plantation is also home to a wide variety of wildlife. Roe deer, badgers, and foxes are frequently spotted in the area, while bird species such as woodpeckers, owls, and thrushes can be heard and seen throughout the year. The forest's diverse ecosystem supports an array of insects, including butterflies and beetles, further adding to its ecological significance.

Olister Dub Plantation is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Berwickshire. Its natural beauty, tranquility, and abundant wildlife make it a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a peaceful retreat in the midst of nature.

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Olister Dub Plantation Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.733391/-2.7589352 or Grid Reference NT5249. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Cottage at Blackburn

Blackburn is a farm on the west side of the A68 near to Lauder; the cottage lies to the north of the farmhouse.

Trevor Littlewood

Beech shelter belt

Leading down from the A697 towards the Leader Water in Lauderdale.

M J Richardson

Landscape near Lauderhaugh

Fields in crop adjacent to A68 (shortly before turning to Lauderhaugh on other side of the road)

Clint Mann

Looking over Lauderdale from Blackchester

The road to the farm, and a low tension electricity supply line and transformer.

M J Richardson

Barley field in Lauderdale

Looking west from the A68 towards Blackchester.

M J Richardson

Barley field in Lauderdale

Looking southwest from the A68 towards hedgerow trees.

M J Richardson

Drive to Lauderhaugh

A Lauderdale farm, off the A68.

M J Richardson

Wheat at Newbigging Walls

Looking northwestwards in Lauderdale

M J Richardson

Looking across Lauderdale

From a wheat field at Newbigging Walls. Leaderhaugh is across the river.

M J Richardson

Disused trap near Burncastle

A log over a ditch in a shelterbelt, with a wire cage in which a trap would be placed, to catch small mammals ['vermin' to some]. Possibly a type of trap that would now be illegal, and replaced by the Tully trap NT5259 : Tully trap on Crib Law.

M J Richardson

Phacelia in Lauderdale

An increasingly frequent, and attractive, crop grown as a cover crop to attract bees and other pollinators, and to be ploughed in as a green manure, and also to suppress weeds. Here it is growing with another plant, a Polygonum, with creamy pink flowers which I have not yet identified. Update, 2 days later - it is Buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum, which produces edible seeds but these will not be harvested - it improves the availability of phosphorus Link

M J Richardson

Phacelia in Lauderdale - detail

An increasingly frequent, and attractive, plant grown as a cover crop to attract bees and other pollinators, and to be ploughed in as a green manure, and also to suppress weeds.

M J Richardson

A purple haze in Lauderdale

A cover crop of Phacelia NT5350 : Phacelia in Lauderdale, with a grass field beyond, near Newbiggin Walls.

M J Richardson

Cut-leaved Cranesbill in a field gateway

Geranium dissectum, one of about 20 UK species of Geranium, but few have leaves dissected to this extent. Flowering has finished, but there are plenty of fruits - five reddish, pointed sepals, a ring of five dark seeds, with a dark beak protruding from the centre of the ring [the 'cranesbill']; several are visible in the image, and see Link and Link. Not the 'Geranium' of florists and gardeners - they are Pelargoniums Link

M J Richardson

Old milepost

The most northerly Smith Patterson post on the Kelso to Edinburgh route at Newbigging Walls. It is on the west-side verge of the A697 opposite one of the farm buildings. A prime subject for digging out and repainting as it gets rustier and rustier as the years pass NT5350 : Old Milepost by the A697, Newbiggins Walls There is another MP marked on the 2007 OS 50000 a mile further north but it cannot now be found. It was photographed in the 1980s, well painted although quite sunken. White top, black stem as this one.

Chris Minto