Giant old Scots pine felled in 'powerful' Highland storm

One of the large, aged Scots pines brought down during bad weather

Giant 200-year-old Scots pines were felled during recent severe weather in the Highlands, a conservation charity has said.

Forres-based Trees for Life said several were brought down in its Dundreggan Forest near Loch Ness.

It is one of Scotland's few surviving areas of ancient Caledonian Forest.

The charity said the loss of the Scots pines - Scotland's national tree - highlighted the need for greater efforts to conserve the species.

It said disease and habitat loss continued to pose serious threats to the trees.

An "unusually powerful storm" brought down the Dundreggan pines in December, according to Trees for Life.