Tree team on stake-out to restore ancient Caledonian Forest

Members of a rewilding charity have spent lockdown isolating among a fledging forest to save more than 100,000 young trees.

A passion to restore Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Forest inspired six of the Trees For Life team to spend the past two months at the charity’s flagship Dundreggan rewilding estate in Glenmoriston, near Loch Ness.

“To leave the nursery in the springtime when everything is coming into leaf and bud, so much would’ve been lost, so we all felt there was too much at stake,” said Doug Gilbert, Trees For Life’s Dundreggan manager.

“No one has visited us for weeks, except for delivery drivers and the postie. We’re here in isolation for the long-haul if needs be – together with a growing forest for the future.”

The trees, including Scots pine, rowan, juniper, hazel and oak, have all been grown carefully from seed in Dundreggan’s specialised nursery, and were due for planting out on the hills this spring.

“Many of these trees are quite rare and hard to grow, such as willow and aspen. They require care and nurturing and need to be watered and tended to so, without us here, many wouldn’t have made it through the dry period we just had in April.”

Trees For Life nurtures and grows more than 60,000 trees at the Dundreggan nursery every year, using seeds collected from across the estate. The trees are later planted across Dundreggan and other sites to ensure future natural seed-fall that will restore ancient Caledonian Forest.

The team, which includes two volunteers, are staying at Dundreggan and Doug, who is based full-time on the estate, appreciates the extra company.

“We know we’re in a privileged position. We are lucky to work outside with a beautiful Highland glen on our doorstep.”