Sample submission has now closed for 2023. We will back in 2024 and samples can be collected and sent in from the 1st of June.
A huge thank you to everyone who has been out on the hills collecting samples for us this year. We have received samples from 115 Munros which, together with samples collected during our 2021 Cairngorms National Park pilot project, brings our total up to an amazing 170 Munros sampled - well on the way to our target of 270.
Below, you can explore the interactive map to see where our fantastic volunteers have been out sampling and see some pictures of them in action in the online gallery.
Over the winter period our lab team will be busy preparing the samples for DNA extraction and sequencing. We remove stones and plant material and grind the samples in liquid nitrogen. Part of the sample is then used to measure the carbon content and acidity of the soil, while the other part is used for DNA analysis of the soil biodiversity. We hope to be able to share some preliminary results in Spring 2024.
