Key facts
- Approximately 100 volunteers have collected 11 million seeds from native trees in Scotland.
- These seeds are being used to grow nearly 8 million native trees.
- The project focuses on restoring the rare Atlantic rainforest, a temperate habitat along the coast.
- Trees for Life is managing the seed collection, grading, and sapling distribution.
- The initiative has received funding for a fourth year from various donors.
A dedicated group of approximately 100 volunteers in Scotland has collected 11 million seeds by hand, contributing to the growth of nearly 8 million native trees. This effort is crucial for restoring the country's diminishing Atlantic rainforest, a rare temperate habitat adapted to the moist coastal environment. Volunteers, including professionals and families, have dedicated tens of thousands of hours to searching remote woodlands in the western Highlands and islands for specific tree species like hazel, sessile oak, and birch. These trees are chosen for their genetic resilience to local microclimates and changing climate conditions.
The collected seeds are processed by the rewilding organization Trees for Life at its nursery near Inverness, with saplings then replanted in their correct ecological zones. The project aims to re-establish the estimated 30,000 hectares of original Atlantic rainforest that still survives. Organizations like the Woodland Trust are utilizing the saplings for reforestation projects in areas such as Glenn Shieldaig and Assynt.
Volunteers like Sheena Macauley and Laura Corby emphasize the importance of this work for future generations and the often-underappreciated significance of the rainforest. Roz Birch, a volunteer coordinator, guides the teams, providing ecological lessons on native species and the unique ecosystems supported by the rainforest, such as mosses and lichens. The project acknowledges that climate change is affecting seed ripening times, necessitating adaptive collection strategies. This citizen-led initiative is considered the largest of its kind and has secured funding for a fourth year from a coalition of donors.