Places such as Ireland, Wales and Scotland ( and parts of Iceland which has birch) used to have a lot more trees but they were pretty well eliminated by cutting and later overgrazing by sheep. They are bringing trees back now but it will take some time,
So I googled Faroe and.....
The Faroe Islands are naturally treeless due to a combination of factors, including:
Climate: The islands have cool summers, strong winds, and frequent gales.
Soil: The soil is similar to peat.
Harsh environment: The islands' harsh climate and environment make it difficult for vegetation to thrive.
However, some trees have been planted in sheltered areas, and there are also about 27 small woodlands on the islands. The woodlands are owned by the government or local town councils, and are managed by the Environment Agency. One notable woodland is Viðarlundin í Kunoy, which was planted in 1914 and features a variety of trees, including ashes, spruces, and birches.
The islands' natural vegetation is mainly moss, grass, and mountain bog. There are also over 400 different types of low-lying Arctic-type plants that cover the ground.
But this says that like Iceland it once had some trees.
Yes, the Faroe Islands were once forested, but there are no native forests today:
Evidence of past forests
Soil samples from the Faroe Islands contain the remains of birch and hazel trees that date back to around 2300 BC. Pollen samples also indicate that other types of trees, such as alder, elm, oak, and pine, may have once grown in the area.
Woodland eradication
Some say that the Vikings cut down all the trees when they arrived in the 9th century, and that they never grew back.
Planted groves
There are a few planted groves of trees in the Faroe Islands, including Viðarlundin í Kunoy, which was planted in 1914. The grove includes a variety of trees, such as ashes, spruces, and birches, and also features a picnic table, trails, and a brook
Hi Chris, did you notice a gender gap on leaving vs staying? I’m gonna guess more women are leaving than men. The BBC reported the rise of brides from abroad in the Faroes a few years back.
Thank you. I sent you a better photo of it to your email. I thought it was lovely, but I always feel a bit weird taking pictures in churches -- something wrong about it--- but to highlight the stained glass is a nice reason
Thank you for your very detailed information about the Faroe Islands. I’m so impressed by their engineering feats and by the transportation system, not to mention their tax system. I had mostly only heard negative things about the Faroes because of their annual slaughters. The stained glass in the church is amazing. Could you show us more photos? Do you know who the artist is? When you are in Japan in November, I hope we can meet again. Happy travels!
Excuse my ignorance what is paywall? Love the sheep at the bus stop photo, a bit of humor to me. :-)
Wish you had covered the grindadrap, I don't know what to make of it myself
Does that bottle of Fisk say that it's probably the most popular shot in the world? They might be wrong on that one.
No trees apparent and not even shrubs....hmmmm...
Places such as Ireland, Wales and Scotland ( and parts of Iceland which has birch) used to have a lot more trees but they were pretty well eliminated by cutting and later overgrazing by sheep. They are bringing trees back now but it will take some time,
So I googled Faroe and.....
The Faroe Islands are naturally treeless due to a combination of factors, including:
Climate: The islands have cool summers, strong winds, and frequent gales.
Soil: The soil is similar to peat.
Harsh environment: The islands' harsh climate and environment make it difficult for vegetation to thrive.
However, some trees have been planted in sheltered areas, and there are also about 27 small woodlands on the islands. The woodlands are owned by the government or local town councils, and are managed by the Environment Agency. One notable woodland is Viðarlundin í Kunoy, which was planted in 1914 and features a variety of trees, including ashes, spruces, and birches.
The islands' natural vegetation is mainly moss, grass, and mountain bog. There are also over 400 different types of low-lying Arctic-type plants that cover the ground.
But this says that like Iceland it once had some trees.
Yes, the Faroe Islands were once forested, but there are no native forests today:
Evidence of past forests
Soil samples from the Faroe Islands contain the remains of birch and hazel trees that date back to around 2300 BC. Pollen samples also indicate that other types of trees, such as alder, elm, oak, and pine, may have once grown in the area.
Woodland eradication
Some say that the Vikings cut down all the trees when they arrived in the 9th century, and that they never grew back.
Planted groves
There are a few planted groves of trees in the Faroe Islands, including Viðarlundin í Kunoy, which was planted in 1914. The grove includes a variety of trees, such as ashes, spruces, and birches, and also features a picnic table, trails, and a brook
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=a181e7b5fc982397&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIKbluB2vmdSXM14nhfWnrzUG-GUTg:1726688888454&q=Were+the+Faroe+Islands+ever+forested%3F&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiE2NWuoc2IAxWwLTQIHXp-OMYQzmd6BAgYEAY&biw=1440&bih=578&dpr=1
Hi Chris, did you notice a gender gap on leaving vs staying? I’m gonna guess more women are leaving than men. The BBC reported the rise of brides from abroad in the Faroes a few years back.
Call it the Underground, call it the Tube, but please don't call it 'the London metro'!
Love,
The Public Transport Pedant
Ha! As a public transport geek, I'm embarrassed of my mistake.
I found the artist who made the stained glass in the church:
Trondur Paturssons is a Faroese painter, sculptor, glass artist and explorer.
http://www.trondurpatursson.dk/Patursson_UK_ind.htm
Thank you. I sent you a better photo of it to your email. I thought it was lovely, but I always feel a bit weird taking pictures in churches -- something wrong about it--- but to highlight the stained glass is a nice reason
Thank you for your very detailed information about the Faroe Islands. I’m so impressed by their engineering feats and by the transportation system, not to mention their tax system. I had mostly only heard negative things about the Faroes because of their annual slaughters. The stained glass in the church is amazing. Could you show us more photos? Do you know who the artist is? When you are in Japan in November, I hope we can meet again. Happy travels!
Your description of the islands makes me want to visit!
It is a tad expensive. But if you do visit, send me an email to Chris@arnade.com and I can try to set up a time to talk about logisitics
Maybe you might consider settling there. You are so happy there and rather miserable in lots of other places. It's o.k. to just be content and happy.
I’ve considered it, but it is expensive!
Welp, now I have a new place on my bucket list.