The Foragers from The Woods by Hamish Napier

14. The Foragers 2:34

For the WEE BEASTIES of the forest: also known collectively as neo-dhruim-altachain, golachs and invertebrates.

Molluscs, Millipedes, Centipedes, Spiders, Harvestmen, Ticks, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Butterflies, Moths, Bugs, Flies, Bees, Wasps, Ants, Beetles.

Insects can be every bit as fascinating as the most graceful bird of prey or mammal of the Caledonian Forest. I will never forget the moment I saw my first Green Tiger Beetle during a primary school wildlife trip to the Green Loch at Glenmore. Had this exotic creature, with its shiny emerald green armour, just flown in from the jungle? I still get excited when I find enormous anthills in the pine forest. A few years ago, half way up a Munro in the hills above Glenfeshie, I was surprised to encounter a huge dragonfly darting past me and across the open moor. The ‘Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms’ project aims to protect, amongst others, the beautiful pine hoverfly and Kentish glory moth. You can find a drawing of both of these in the album cover artwork by Somhairle MacDonald.

Insects play a crucial role in the forest, as pollinators, honey-makers and recyclers of nutrients through consumption of dung and carrion. They provide food for the fish, birds, mammals and other insects. Some are even farmers - Scottish Wood Ant ‘farms’ aphids by milking them regularly for their honeydew.

Invertebrates are the great foragers of the forest. The odd 7/8 rhythm of this tune was composed for my own foraging activities. It represents me and my pals stumbling around the lumpy, uneven, mossy, heathery forest floor in search of delicious chanterelle mushrooms! A great Scots word schawaldouris refers to a wanderer in the woods who subsides by hunting.

Hamish is a multi-instrumentalist and composer from the Scottish Highlands.

hamishnapier.com