The sahara of scotland.

I was half listening to a radio interview yesterday when i heard the interviewer refer to a place i had never heard of, it was called "The Sahara Of Scotland ". this place is now called Culbin Forrest, it is East of Nairn/West of Forres in Morayshire.
Back in the 17th century it was a thriving farming community run by "The Laird of Kinnaird".
the farm land stretched for miles ,the laird had his large house and the workers had their cottages on the land which stretched to the Sand Dunes at the edge of the North Sea.
Sometime in the 18th century ,allegedly, there was a massive storm which lifted all the sand/dunes from the beaches and covered all the crops and the farm land and the houses. the site was abandoned ,as the farm land was now barren it looked like the Sahara nothing but sand/dunes for miles.
In 1920 the land was taken over by the Forestry Commission Scotland who laid 250 ton of Brash, per Hectare, over the grounds which lay for 1 year.the brash contained insects and seeds which started to make the ground fertile again. the Forestry Commission then planted Scots Pine trees on a large scale which over the years has grown into a beautiful forrest called CULBIN FORREST. i found it very interesting, man reclaiming land for the future generations and enjoyment to others. it makes a change from polluting the land.
if interested the story of Culbin and the myths are on line.
Culbin is now open to the public.

And I Am Not On Commission:D . music .

 

Just had a look at some of the sites Music, very interesting.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-76qjv6

Don't pull marram grass up to thatch your house, cut it at the base.
Don't play cards past midnight into the sabbath, that'll do it.

 

I had a look too - very interesting.

 

Nice bit of history on a far away place. Thanks for sharing.