Trees for Life volunteers collect 11 million rare seeds to restore Scotland's woodlands

A bid to boost the availability of native trees from western Scotland has surpassed expectations, according to charities leading the mission.

Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland have collected more than 11 million genetically rare seeds.

The three-year-old project set an initial target of one million.

The charities have collaborated with 100 volunteers who have collected seeds by hand from remote locations, enabling an estimated 7.8 million trees to be grown for woodland restoration projects.

Their quest focused on collecting species often hard-to-reach and cost-prohibitive. They have been able to gather huge quantities of rare and unusual seeds from areas on the west coast and from Scotland’s rainforest.

Seeds from the west of Scotland and its islands have uniquely adapted genetic traits going back to the last Ice Age. It means trees grown from those seed batches have a better chance of survival.

The seeds are used by the two organisations as part of nature restoration work. They are also donated to accredited tree nurseries across Scotland.

The Tree Seed Collection project is funded by the trust with support from Postcode Lottery players and other backers.

Project officer Roz Birch said: “It’s inspiring to meet so many different people who deeply care about native woodlands, nature and wildlife, and want to make a lasting, positive difference.

“Collecting these precious tree seeds is about hope. It’s about committing to a better future for ourselves and for future generations – and for Scotland’s biodiversity.”

The seed collection project aims to address a shortage of tree species with traceable local provenance, particularly from the west coast, and to further support tree planting in the Western and Northern Isles.

The seeds collected include 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.