A huge thank you to everyone who went out on the hills collecting samples for us in 2023. We 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.
In 2024 samples can be collected and sent in from the 1st June until the 30th September. With only 100 Munros left to sample our goal of mapping alpine soil biodiversity across Scotland’s Munros is well within reach!
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. In August, project lead Andrea Britton visited the iconic Munro Schiehallion with Helen Needham from BBC Scotland to collect samples for the project and talk about the hidden biodiversity in our mountain soils. You can listen to a podcast about the trip here.
During the winter period our lab team have been busy extracting DNA, analysing the soil chemistry and checking the photos of your sample plots. DNA from all of the samples was sent away for sequencing in early 2024 and we expect to have our first indications of the biodiversity we have uncovered during summer 2024. Head over to the Results page to find out more about what we do with your samples and the discoveries that we have made so far.
