The hills are mostly covered with heather, but along their lower slopes, there are some extensive areas of forestry, most of which is planted with Scots Pine and Larch.
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During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Farquharson family acquired the whole of the eastern part of Finzean, while the Forest of Birse was owned by the Earl of Aboyne, but with ancient common rights retained by all the inhabitants of Birse parish to this day.
Sir Angus Farquharson of Finzean, KCVO, OBE, CStJ, DL (born 27 March 1935) was Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire from 1998 to 2010.