The Ghost Wood and The RainForest

Matt Sillars is a photographer living on the Black Isle in the North of Scotland

The Project

This project is a year long reflection on two forms of endangered woodlands in Scotland, culminating in an exhibition at WASPS South Block in Glasgow in October 2025.

What is a ghost wood?

A Ghost Wood is the name given in Scotland to an ancient woodland that now has less than 20% canopy left, and is over grazed by deer and unlikely to regenerate naturally.

What is a Scottish rainforest?

A ‘Rainforest’ in Scotland is a ‘newish’ name given to ancient Atlantic Oak Woods, on the west coast. These are very wet places with a thriving ecosystem, but which are under threat from a variety of pressures such as development and deer overgrazing.