An ancient elm tree that has stood alone in a remote location in the Highlands for hundreds of years has been joined by dozens of seedlings as part of efforts to help save the species.
The wych elm — known as the Last Ent of Affric in homage to the tree-shepherds from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings story — has been chosen to help in the fight against Dutch elm disease.
The fungal infection is spread by bark beetles and can quickly wither and kill healthy trees.
Thirty-five young elms have been transferred from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and replanted in the shadow of the Last Ent of Affric.
The seedlings will be the first of 200 trees planted over the next two years,
