Since the ice retreated from
Shetland less than 10,000 years ago the most significant impact on the flora
of the islands has been that of human settlers.
These
people, arriving some 5,000 years ago, would have found a very different
vegetation to that which we see today.
The development of
agriculture and introduction of livestock soon began to influence the
landscape.
Today, some habitats are rich in plant life as a
direct result of these traditional land management practices, whilst others
are found where human influence has been minimal.
