Rocky times ahead

Slightly further than "from Birnam hill to Dunsinane", some Appalachian rocks have found their way to the University Botanic Gardens courtesy of Mowlem Civil Engineers. Part of the new wilderness trail, the rocks will provide a natural habitat for a selection of plants indigenous to the eastern USA.

The rocks have not however, been unearthed in Dundee but in Blair Atholl where geologists have found that the stones are geologically the same as the mountains which comprise the Appalachian range. Similarities have also been identified between the species of trees native to both countries. This is not a coincidence according to Jillian Galbraith, education and community events officer at the gardens. She explained that because Europe and America were originally part of the same land mass, similar geological features are commonly found on the two continents.

Visitors to the new trail will enjoy a real taste of the Appalachians surrounded by conifers, broad-leaved trees and even a red squirrel once the area is planted this winter.

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