Birnam Wood

A much denuded woodland on the right bank of the River Tay, to the east of Birnam (Perth and Kinross), Birnam Wood is famous from Shakespeare's Macbeth where three witches predict that Macbeth will be safe until "Birnam Wood do come to Dunsinane", a seemingly unlikely event given the two are many miles apart. However, in the play, Macbeth's enemies use branches from the trees of the wood to camouflage themselves in order to approach his stronghold on Dunsinane Hill, thus making the prophecy come true. The ancient Birnam Oak and nearby Birnam Sycamore remain as the last remnant of that 1000 year-old wood which once extended over the slopes on both sides of the river. Both are protected and their lower branches are propped for support.


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