This picture was taken on a crisp autumn morning in Quarrelwood near Elgin.  Ferns are fasinating and the colours in this were too good to pass by.  Quarrelwood is frequently used for orienteering, and fossils have been found in the area.

On a frosty winters morning Roseisle forest sparkles in the sunlight.  This area is a very popular one for walkers, with many interesting trails marked out.  Roseisle beach is a short walk away, and is very popular in the summer, it's a great place for a picnic.  Click for Aardvark Map

Also taken in Roseisle, the sun caught these frosted stems making them sparkle in the light.

This little pine tree is gamely making a go of it on the very sandy soil on the edge of Culbin forest.  The walk to reach this location is rewarded by a deserted beach, and seals rest on a sandbank not far away.  Click for Aardvark Map

The ground is carpeted with lichens, and the Broom is just starting to flower on this misty morning.

Culbin forest was once farmland but was frequently subjected to sandstorms.  It was finally engulfed by sand in a great storm in 1694.  Local tales tell of a submerged village and some would have us believe that the top of a church spire is sometimes visible poking up through the ground.  In the 1920's the area was gradually stabilised by planting pine trees and the resulting forest offers a good range of trails for walkers and cyclists.  For more information on Culbin check out the Forestry Commission website

Also taken in Culbin forest, this is a close up of lichen growing wild on the forest floor.  The structure of this plant is just amazing, looking almost coral like in form.  Don't be fooled into thinking it's a massive plant, this one is only a couple of inches high.

This picture was taken on the West coast of Scotland, near Fort William just as the sun came out after a particularly heavy and prolonged rain shower. Rhododendrons grow wild here in large numbers, visit in May when they're flowering for a real floral treat.  Wild ones have these gorgeous pink flowers, but many varieties, with a kaleidoscope of colours, can be seen in nearby parks and gardens.

The wind was blowing a gentle refreshing breeze on culbin beach, where these grasses waved peacefully on the beautiful unspoilt shore at Findhorn bay.