Monday 29 June, 2026
A collaborative effort between Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland to increase the availability of native trees from western Scotland has surpassed expectations by collecting over 11 million genetically rare and difficult-to-collect seeds.
The three-year project, which launched in 2023 with a goal of collecting 1 million seeds, has seen the two charities work with a team of about 100 dedicated volunteers who have hand-collected the precious seeds from remote locations. This effort has resulted in an estimated 7.8 million trees being grown for woodland restoration projects in Scotland.
The project’s focus on collecting species that are typically hard-to-reach and costly for tree nurseries or contractors to gather themselves, as well as its emphasis on promoting genetic resilience for native Scottish tree species, has allowed for the gathering of large quantities of uncommon and unique seeds from areas on the west coast and Scotland’s rainforest.
These seeds from the west of Scotland and its islands possess genetically adapted traits that date back to the last Ice Age. As a result, trees grown from these seeds have a higher chance of survival when planted, increasing resilience against disease and climate change.
The collected seeds are utilized by Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland in their nature restoration work, and are also donated to accredited tree nurseries across Scotland.
Funding for the Tree Seed Collection project is provided by Woodland Trust Scotland, with the support of Postcode Lottery players and other donors, as well as supporters of Trees for Life’s Big Give Earth Raise Appeal and Wild Seed Appeal, and the BrITE Foundation and Clean Planet Foundation.
Roz Birch, Tree Seed Collection Project Officer, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to coordinate this project and work with volunteers and colleagues who are passionate about protecting native woodlands, nature, and wildlife, and making a positive impact for future generations and Scotland’s biodiversity.
The Tree Seed Collection Project aims to address the shortage of tree species with traceable local provenance, particularly in the western regions, and to further support tree planting in the Western Isles and Northern Isles.
The collected seeds include varieties such as hazel, oak, dwarf birch, willow, juniper, birch, wild cherry, wych elm, yew, and elder.
Once collected, the seeds are checked at Trees for Life’s Dundreggan rewilding estate in Glenmoriston near Loch Ness. Many of the seeds are then donated to tree nurseries across Scotland for sowing and growing on. The more than 20 nurseries which have received these seeds so far are all part of the Woodland Trust’s UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown Assurance Scheme, a voluntary program that ensures trees have been sourced and grown in the UK or Ireland.
Due to its success, the seed collection project, which was initially set to last for three years, has been extended for at least another year.
Today, Scotland has one of the lowest levels of woodland cover in Europe, with only 4% of remaining native woodlands. It is also considered one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
Planting trees is crucial for restoring Scotland’s Caledonian forest in areas where natural recovery is not possible. This unique habitat in the Highlands is home to various wildlife species, including red squirrels, capercaillie, and crossbills, but less than 2% remains today.
On the west coast, only 30,000 hectares of Scotland’s rainforest are still present. Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland are partners of the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest, which highlights the urgent need for action to preserve and protect this globally significant temperate rainforest from being completely lost.
As members of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland are calling on the Scottish Government to address the nature and climate emergencies and promote job creation and better health by declaring Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation, committing to nature restoration across 30% of Scotland, including doubling native woodland cover.
To learn more about the Tree Seed Collection Project, please visit treesforlife.org.uk.
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