by Aimee Johnson –
Whilst the natural world is central to everything we do at Aigas, it is also important (and fascinating) to consider the rich history and culture that Scotland has to offer. One of the ways in which we can further understand this history is through Scots Gaelic, Gàidhlig, the Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. Most of Scotland was once primarily Gaelic speaking, as evidenced by the local place names, for example ‘Aigas’ (Àigeis) means the ‘notch in the waterfall’, referring to the falls in the narrow gorge just below the field centre.
Interestingly, Gaelic is commonly believed to have been brought to Scotland by Irish settlers during the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Primitive Irish, the ancestor of all three modern Gaelic languages (Scottish Gaelic, Irish, and Manx) used the ‘Ogham alphabet’. This writing system has 20 letters (compared with the 18 letters of the modern Scottish Gaelic alphabet), and medieval scholars created links between each letter and a particular tree.
Perhaps this association arose because each Ogham character, or feda (tree), is composed around a vertical reference line, known as a flesc (pronounced flayshk), which resembles a stem or tree trunk, with one or more slashes, or twigs, branching from it.
For example, A (Ailm, pronounced “A-lum”) is traditionally associated with the elm. These tall, straight trees, whose numbers have been tragically reduced by Dutch elm disease, are linked with height, perspective, and vision. In ancient Celtic tree lore, however, the elm is also closely associated with death and the transition to the underworld. This connection stems from several factors, including the use of its wood for making coffins, as it resists decay when buried underground, and its reputation as a dangerous tree. Elms were known for shedding heavy branches on warm, still days with little warning, giving rise to the old saying: “Elm hateth man, and waiteth.”
The kind of elm most commonly found in Scotland is the Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra). Its name has nothing to do with witches; instead, it derives from an Old English word meaning “to give way”, a reference to the tree’s flexible wood. In Gaelic, the elm is known as leamhan, a name preserved in places such as Loch Leven in Kinross.
In October, we journeyed to the “Last Ent of Affric”, an ancient, solitary elm hidden deep within the beautiful glen. Standing beneath its gnarled, twisting boughs, it is easy to understand how such trees inspired tales of enchanted forests and legendary beings.
The Ogham letter B, Beith (pronounced “BAE-yh”) is associated with the silver birch (Betula pendula). In Celtic mythology it is known as the “Lady of the Woods” and is a symbol of purification, change, and new beginnings, as well as femininity, grace, purity, family connections, healing, new life, and rebirth.
Birch is categorised as a pioneer species, meaning it is one of the first trees to recolonise bare or disturbed ground. It is also among the earliest native trees to come into leaf each spring, making it a natural symbol of renewal and the return of the growing season.
C (Coll, pronounced “Col”) is paired with the hazel (Corylus avellana). In Celtic tradition, the hazel is closely associated with wisdom. According to legend, the Salmon of Knowledge gained all the wisdom in the world by eating the hazelnuts that fell into the sacred well from the overhanging hazel trees.
Hazel is also one of Britain’s oldest native trees. Traces of hazelnut shells and pollen have been discovered in cave settlements dating back around 10,000 years, highlighting its long-standing importance to both people and the landscape.
The name Coll appears frequently in place names across the west of Scotland and was also chosen for our own Coll, the wildcat whom many of you may have met during a visit to the Aigas Estate.
Now that you know your ABCs of the Ogham alphabet, you’re well on your way. Perhaps the next time you wander through a woodland, you’ll see not just trees, but the ancient stories, symbols, and language that have been growing among them for thousands of years.
