madness or gwyllt hide. Wildlife Being a unique ecosystem in the British Isles, the Caledonian Pinewoods are home to some of the islands' rarest wildlife. It is considered to be one of the last remaining wildernesses in the British Isles. Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests found breeding nowhere else in the British Isles: Western capercaillie Common goldeneye Crested tit Parrot crossbill Scottish crossbill Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests rare elsewhere in the British Isles: Black grouse Red crossbill Goosander Siskin Redpoll Long-eared owl Osprey Red-breasted merganser Redwing Temminck's stint Wood sandpiper Horned grebe Golden eagle Mammal species present in Caledonian pine forests: Eurasian beaver Feral goat Mountain hare European pine marten Red deer Red fox Red squirrel Roe deer European wildcat Mammal species extinct in Caledonian pine forests: Aurochs Brown bear Eurasian lynx Grey wolf Eurasian elk (Called moose in North American English) Tarpan (wild horse) Wild boar Conservation A review of the native pinewoods of Scotland Steven & Carlisle (1959) highlighted the plight of the remaining 35 ancient pinewood sites, many of which had been damaged by felling, fire and intensive grazing from sheep and deer. A later review in the 1980s showed that further damage had occurred through ploughing and planting with non-native conifers with less than 12,000 ha of the ancient habitat remaining. A subsequent guide to the ancient pinewoods reviews the conservation story and provides a summary of the management in each site as well as a guide on how to reach all the woods using public transport, walking, and cycling. Much of the remaining Caledonian pine forest is fully protected with most of the forest lying within the Cairngorms National Park. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Forestry and Land Scotland also own several areas of pinewood on their reserves. One of the largest remaining areas is Ballochbuie Forest on the Balmoral Estate, which is protected as a Special Area of Conservation under the European Union Habitats Directive. Scientific research continues on the ecology of the Caledonian Forest and its restoration. Populations of the rare groundcover, Linnaea borealis, may be too isolated from one another to produce viable seed. Diversity of fungi has also been affected by the decrease in habitat. The agaric fungus Mycena purpureofusca is commonly found in Caledonian pine woods, and it is considered an indicator species for that habitat type. Fire appears to