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Trees for Life (Scotland)
Encyclopedia
Trees for Life is a registered charity in Findhorn
, Moray
, formed in 1989 by Alan Watson Featherstone, as a direct result of the inspiration and example of Richard St. Barbe Baker
, the 'Man of the Trees'. Originally formed as part of the Findhorn Foundation
they now operate as an independent charity, though their offices are still based within the Findhorn Park, and they continue to maintain strong links with the community.
The main focus of their work is a major project to assist the natural regeneration of the Caledonian Forest
, which once covered a large area of the Highlands of Scotland as extensive stands of majestic Scots pine
, interspersed with birch
, rowan
, juniper
and aspen
trees, and is now reduced to just 1% of its former extent. Their long term goal is to restore the Caledonian Forest
to an area of 600 square miles (1,554 km²) in the north-central Scottish Highlands
, and to reintroduce the missing species of wildlife, such as the European beaver
, wild boar, Eurasian lynx
and Eurasian wolf
which formerly lived in the forest.
Their work also has an international dimension with the Restoring the Earth project, which promotes the restoration of the world's degraded ecosystems as the most important task facing humanity in the coming decades.
.
Initial work took place in Glen Cannich
, but the majority of their activities to date have been in Glen Affric
, where they operate in partnership with both the Forestry Commission Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland
. In more recent years, work has expanded into other nearby glens, such as Glen Moriston, to the south of Glen Affric, at Achnashellach
in the northwest of the 900 square miles (2,331 km²) target area, and at Corrimony
, where they work in partnership with The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB).
Each year a percentage of the volunteer groups are based at the charity's field base and nursery, Plodda Lodge, where they help with work in the nursery, as well as carrying out restoration work in the Caledonian Forest in nearby areas such as Glen Affric and Corrimony.
Plodda Lodge is now run as a tree nursery, propagating trees from seeds and cuttings collected by Trees for Life staff and volunteers, with an emphasis on growing some of the rarer and/or less easily available tree species native to the Caledonian Forest such as eared willow, hazel
and juniper
.
Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, in the Scottish Highlands – one of the largest areas of land in the UK to be bought for forest restoration. The £1.65 million deal is the charity’s most significant and important project to date, and follows more than two years of negotiations.
Dundreggan, lying on the north side of Glenmoriston
to the west of Loch Ness, is home to declining species such as black grouse
and wood ants. It contains areas of ancient woodland, including one of Scotland’s best areas of juniper
as well as significant areas of dwarf birch
, however much of the estate is open treeless ground. It has been managed as a traditional sporting estate for many years, and heavy grazing by sheep and deer
has prevented the healthy growth of woodland and other natural habitats. Trees for Life's purchase of the estate will allow them to plant 500,000 native trees and re-connect the forest between Glen Moriston and Glen Affric.
By 2058, Trees for Life’s long-term plan will see Dundreggan restored to a wild landscape of diverse natural forest cover, with the return of species including red squirrel
, capercaillie
, golden eagle
and European beaver
. Scientific research and education programmes will be established and most human infrastructure removed. Dundreggan Lodge and a neighbouring cottage will be renovated to a high ecological standard, providing a base for volunteers and educational displays for students, researchers and school children. After a feasibility study in Glen Affric six wild boar, donated by the Highland Wildlife Park
, were re-introduced to a large fenced area of the estate in November 2009.
(Linnaea borealis), and to establish populations of these plants, and more common species such as primrose (Primula vulgaris
) and bluebell
(Hyacinthoides non-scripta), in new woodland where these species are absent.
The project involves surveys of established and new woodland sites, creating trial plots for species reintroduction, propagation of plants, researching suitable species and their growing conditions and liaising with other organisations involved in similar work.
Findhorn
Findhorn is a village in Moray, Scotland. It is located on the eastern shore of Findhorn Bay and immediately south of the Moray Firth. Findhorn is 3 miles northwest of Kinloss, and about 5 miles by road from Forres....
, Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
, formed in 1989 by Alan Watson Featherstone, as a direct result of the inspiration and example of Richard St. Barbe Baker
Richard St. Barbe Baker
Richard St. Barbe Baker was an English forester, environmental activist and author, who contributed greatly to worldwide reforestation efforts. As a leader, he founded an organization, still active today, whose many chapters carry out reforestation internationally.-Early years:He was born in...
, the 'Man of the Trees'. Originally formed as part of the Findhorn Foundation
Findhorn Foundation
The Findhorn Foundation is a Scottish charitable trust registered in 1972, formed by the spiritual community at the Findhorn Ecovillage, one of the largest intentional communities in Britain....
they now operate as an independent charity, though their offices are still based within the Findhorn Park, and they continue to maintain strong links with the community.
The main focus of their work is a major project to assist the natural regeneration of the Caledonian Forest
Caledonian Forest
The Caledonian Forest is the name of a type of woodland that once covered vast areas of Scotland. Today, however, only 1% of the original forest survives, covering in 84 locations. The forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife, much of which is not found elsewhere in the British...
, which once covered a large area of the Highlands of Scotland as extensive stands of majestic Scots pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
, interspersed with birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
, rowan
Rowan
The rowans or mountain-ashes are shrubs or small trees in genus Sorbus of family Rosaceae. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomictic microspecies...
, juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
and aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
trees, and is now reduced to just 1% of its former extent. Their long term goal is to restore the Caledonian Forest
Caledonian Forest
The Caledonian Forest is the name of a type of woodland that once covered vast areas of Scotland. Today, however, only 1% of the original forest survives, covering in 84 locations. The forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife, much of which is not found elsewhere in the British...
to an area of 600 square miles (1,554 km²) in the north-central Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, and to reintroduce the missing species of wildlife, such as the European beaver
European Beaver
The Eurasian beaver or European beaver is a species of beaver, which was once widespread in Eurasia, where it was hunted to near extinction both for fur and for castoreum, a secretion of its scent gland believed to have medicinal properties...
, wild boar, Eurasian lynx
Eurasian Lynx
The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests, South Asia and East Asia. It is also known as the European lynx, common lynx, the northern lynx, and the Siberian or Russian lynx...
and Eurasian wolf
Eurasian Wolf
The Eurasian Wolf , also known as the, European, Common or Forest Wolf is a subspecies of grey wolf which has the largest range among wolf subspecies and is the most common in Europe and Asia, ranging through Mongolia, China, Russia, Scandinavia, Western Europe and the Himalayan Mountains...
which formerly lived in the forest.
Their work also has an international dimension with the Restoring the Earth project, which promotes the restoration of the world's degraded ecosystems as the most important task facing humanity in the coming decades.
History
Practical work on the project began in 1989 and since then they have planted over 850,000 native trees and have protected numerous areas with fenced exclosures so that natural regeneration of the trees can take place in the absence of overgrazing by animals such as Red deerRed Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
.
Initial work took place in Glen Cannich
Glen Cannich
Glen Cannich is a long glen in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland and through which runs the River Cannich. Emerging from the reservoir of Loch Mullardoch, the river flows east to merge with the River Affric at the village of Cannich, their combined waters forming the River Glass.Downstream of...
, but the majority of their activities to date have been in Glen Affric
Glen Affric
right|300px|thumb|Glen AffricGlen Affric is a glen south-west of the village of Cannich in the Highland region of Scotland, some to the west of Loch Ness. The River Affric runs along its length, passing through Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin .It used to be part of the lands of the Clan...
, where they operate in partnership with both the Forestry Commission Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
. In more recent years, work has expanded into other nearby glens, such as Glen Moriston, to the south of Glen Affric, at Achnashellach
Achnashellach
Achnashellach is an area in Wester Ross in the Highlands of Scotland, and within the Highland council area. It is at the eastern end of Loch Dùghaill, and on the A890 road...
in the northwest of the 900 square miles (2,331 km²) target area, and at Corrimony
Corrimony
Corrimony is a remote village in Glenurquhart in Inverness-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.Corrimony is famous for Mony's Stone and the chambered cairn, part of the Clava group of cairns, which date from the 3rd century BC...
, where they work in partnership with The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
(RSPB).
Volunteer work weeks
Most of Trees for Life’s practical work is carried out by volunteers, through their programme of volunteer work weeks, providing opportunities for people to get involved and support their efforts. Held throughout spring and autumn, each week consists of 10 volunteers, and is run by two leaders, who may be Trees for Life staff members or Work Week volunteers who have been trained to lead weeks themselves. Work carried out includes native tree planting, non-native species removal, seed collection, fencing and the removal of redundant stock fences.Each year a percentage of the volunteer groups are based at the charity's field base and nursery, Plodda Lodge, where they help with work in the nursery, as well as carrying out restoration work in the Caledonian Forest in nearby areas such as Glen Affric and Corrimony.
Plodda Lodge
Trees for Life purchased Plodda Lodge, near the village of Tomich just outside Glen Affric, in 1996. This large house is located in a quiet secluded area surrounded by trees and was built in the 1850s as a laundry for the Guisachan Estate. Its remote location in the forest makes it ideally suited for use as a field base for the charity’s increasing practical work in the area.Plodda Lodge is now run as a tree nursery, propagating trees from seeds and cuttings collected by Trees for Life staff and volunteers, with an emphasis on growing some of the rarer and/or less easily available tree species native to the Caledonian Forest such as eared willow, hazel
Hazel
The hazels are a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels into a separate family Corylaceae.They have simple, rounded leaves with double-serrate margins...
and juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
.
Dundreggan Estate
In August 2008 Trees for Life successfully purchased the 4,000 hectareHectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, in the Scottish Highlands – one of the largest areas of land in the UK to be bought for forest restoration. The £1.65 million deal is the charity’s most significant and important project to date, and follows more than two years of negotiations.
Dundreggan, lying on the north side of Glenmoriston
Glenmoriston
Glenmoriston or Glen Moriston is a river glen in the Scottish Highlands, that runs from Loch Ness, at the village of Invermoriston, westwards to Loch Cluanie, where it meets with Glen Shiel. The A887 and A87 roads pass through Glenmoriston....
to the west of Loch Ness, is home to declining species such as black grouse
Black Grouse
The Black Grouse or Blackgame is a large bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in moorland and bog areas near to woodland, mostly boreal...
and wood ants. It contains areas of ancient woodland, including one of Scotland’s best areas of juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
as well as significant areas of dwarf birch
Dwarf Birch
Betula nana is a species of birch in the family Betulaceae, found mainly in the tundra of the Arctic region.-Description:...
, however much of the estate is open treeless ground. It has been managed as a traditional sporting estate for many years, and heavy grazing by sheep and deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
has prevented the healthy growth of woodland and other natural habitats. Trees for Life's purchase of the estate will allow them to plant 500,000 native trees and re-connect the forest between Glen Moriston and Glen Affric.
By 2058, Trees for Life’s long-term plan will see Dundreggan restored to a wild landscape of diverse natural forest cover, with the return of species including red squirrel
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
, capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
, golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
and European beaver
European Beaver
The Eurasian beaver or European beaver is a species of beaver, which was once widespread in Eurasia, where it was hunted to near extinction both for fur and for castoreum, a secretion of its scent gland believed to have medicinal properties...
. Scientific research and education programmes will be established and most human infrastructure removed. Dundreggan Lodge and a neighbouring cottage will be renovated to a high ecological standard, providing a base for volunteers and educational displays for students, researchers and school children. After a feasibility study in Glen Affric six wild boar, donated by the Highland Wildlife Park
Highland Wildlife Park
The Highland Wildlife Park is a safari park and zoo near Kingussie, Highland, Scotland. The park is located within the Cairngorms National Park...
, were re-introduced to a large fenced area of the estate in November 2009.
Woodland Ground Flora Project
Trees for Life's Woodland Ground Flora Project seeks to enhance populations of plants which have become scarce in established woodland, species such as one-flowered wintergreen (Moneses uniflora), and twinflowerTwinflower
Linnaea is a plant genus in the family Caprifoliaceae . The genus includes a single, generally boreal to subarctic woodland subshrub species, Linnaea borealis, commonly known as Twinflower .This plant was a favorite of Carl Linnaeus, founder of the modern system of biological nomenclature, for...
(Linnaea borealis), and to establish populations of these plants, and more common species such as primrose (Primula vulgaris
Primula vulgaris
Primula vulgaris is a species of Primula native to western and southern Europe , northwest Africa , and southwest Asia...
) and bluebell
Common Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. -Taxonomy:...
(Hyacinthoides non-scripta), in new woodland where these species are absent.
The project involves surveys of established and new woodland sites, creating trial plots for species reintroduction, propagation of plants, researching suitable species and their growing conditions and liaising with other organisations involved in similar work.