A full day of woodland activities next weekend will mark the 25th anniversary of a spiral tree walk in north Sutherland.
A' Chraobh was planted and set up by the community at Borgie Forest in December 2000, with each tree representing a letter in the Gaelic Ogham Tree Alphabet. The project brought together artists, horticulturalists, crofters, craft workers and children.
A spiralled pathway through some 700 trees now lies at the heart of the Borgie Breco woodland, owned by Forestry and Land Scotland, which jointly manages the forest with North Sutherland Community Forest Trust.
The path leads the walker through 18 species of native tree, all of which represent a letter from the ancient Gaelic "B to I". More than 200 trees were planted by local individuals and families and it is expected that many will return to see their tree on the anniversary day.
Each letter in the alphabet is also marked on the pathway by an image etched on a Caithness stone flag. These images were all selected from drawings and paintings created by children during a series of workshops by artist Sue Jane Taylor in Altnaharra, Bettyhill, Melvich and Tongue primaries and at Farr High School.
At the centre of the spiral pathway is an undulating turfed drystone wall, built by Australian artist Ian Westacott using the traditional method, echoing the shape of a vein of a leaf. This is a place for reflection and rest, built of stone from dog kennels located in the notorious Patrick Sellar's Syre Estate.
Broadcaster and writer Lesley Riddoch, who officially opened the community wood, is returning to help celebrate its quarter-century on Saturday, December 6.
Activities taking place between noon and 8pm will range from willow wreath-making and an art workshop to songs and folklore.
There will be a ceremonial opening led by Lesley along with piper Carol-Anne Farquhar, a lantern procession led by Alex Patience and Hilary Wilson and music by Fèis air an Oir.
Mandy Haggith will read an excerpt from her latest book, The Lost Elms, and Gaelic writer Christine Stone will read her winning entry to the 2025 Scotland's Nature Awards/
In the evening Lesley will introduce and screen her latest film, Scotland's Missing Forests.
There will be celebratory cake and tea at the Borgie Cabin.
Booking is essential by emailing admin@nscft.org
Artist Sue Jane Taylor said: "There are so many reasons why we are organising A' Chraobh 25. Primarily it is the gathering of the people amongst these native trees and crucially refocusing on the future management plan for the wood, honouring its original plantings and its mantra.
"To me this wood should be officially protected and nationally recognised as Gaelic Ogham Arboretum, the only one existing.
"I remember the words described by local journalist and resident Bruce Sandison, who wrote in The Scotsman newspaper in 2000 about A' Chraobh: 'As the trees grow and the children who planted them grow with them, they will take their own children and grandchildren to the forest to see their tree. And when they depart their life, their identities will linger on amidst the birdsong and peace of the small wood.'"
A 50-page Gaelic/English publication called A' Chraobh: The Tree has been produced with a foreword by Giles Sutherland, art critic for The Times. The book includes an essay by writer Mary Beith on the origins of the Gaelic alphabet, the traditional significance of each tree in Gaelic culture and practical uses Highlanders have made of them.
The original project was supported by Comunn na Gàidhlig, the Forestry Commission and Millennium Forest for Scotland Trust. The anniversary event has been made possible with support from the Forestry Community Fund, the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub Community-Led Local Development Fund, Plantlife's Species on the Edge initiative and Taigh na Gaidhlig Mhealanais.