Who we work with
Trees for Life works with a broad range of organisations to deliver forest restoration and rewilding in the Scottish Highlands.
We work with these organisations to increase knowledge and understanding about forest restoration and to influence policy, approaches and attitudes about rewilding.
Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest
A voluntary partnership of more than 20 organisations that are all committed to collaborative action for the benefit of the rainforest.
https://savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk/
Rewilding Europe
As part of the Rewilding Europe network, we learn from the many exciting and innovative projects taking place across the continent and share our experience in Scotland of forest restoration and species translocations.
Scottish Environment Link
As members of Scottish Environment Link we network with other environmental organisations and help to influence the Scottish Government. We contribute our practical experience of forest restoration so that any proposed changes will really make a difference.
Scottish Forestry
Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations. They provide support through collaboration and sharing information in our Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project.
NatureScot
As Scotland’s nature agency, we collaborate with NatureScot to improve the country for nature. They are partners in our Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project and fund our work on mountain woodland restoration through their Biodiversity Challenge Fund.
Scottish Rewilding Alliance
We are founder members of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a network of over 20 organisations working to rewild land and sea in Scotland. The Alliance is ensuring better understanding about the benefits of rewilding in Scotland and how government, landowners and the wider public can help make it happen.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is a diverse coalition of over 50 civil society organisations in Scotland, including Trees for Life, campaigning together on climate change.
https://www.stopclimatechaos.scot/
Woodland Trust Scotland
We work closely with Woodland Trust Scotland to encourage landowners to restore forest on their land. We collaborate closely to ensure that landowners and crofters have the support they need and Woodland Trust Scotland are partners in our Tree Seed Collection and Wild Pine projects.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/scotland/
We collaborate with these organisations to deliver forest restoration and other conservation work on the ground through both pragmatic and innovative projects and activities.
Forestry and Land Scotland
As the government agency responsible for Scotland’s forests, we have worked with Forestry and Land Scotland to restore the Caledonian Forest at Glen Affric and other locations in the Scottish Highlands.
https://forestryandland.gov.scot/
Glenmoriston Deer Management Group
As members we have a direct line of communication to deer policy both locally and nationally. Although our impact locally is limited, it is an important forum for us to engage.
http://glenmoristondmg.deer-management.co.uk/
Balnacarn Estate, Glenmoriston
Our work here has focused on establishment of native woodland.
Ben Damph Estate, Torridon
Ben Damph, located on the West coast, has an ambitious target of rhododendron removal. Our Torridon volunteer Conservation Weeks helped to rid the estate of this non-native invasive shrub. Trees for Life Woodland Services is working with the estate to design and deliver an ambitious native woodland creation scheme to link in with their existing ancient and more recently established woodlands.
Cairngorms Aspen Group
An informal group of aspen experts and enthusiasts working to enhance the place of aspen in the Scottish landscape.
Culligran Estate, Glen Strathfarrar
In partnership with the estate and Scottish Natural Heritage, we established forest exclosures to form an important link between existing ancient woodland in this beautiful glen. Our volunteers continue to maintain these fences and the young woodland inside them.
Montane Scrub Action Group
We are a founding member of the MSAG, which has promoted the restoration of treeline and mountain woodland since the mid 1990’s.
National Trust for Scotland
Our partnership with NTS is focused on the remote West Affric Estate. We have established new native woodland in a series of fenced exclosures, as part of our aim to build a forest network towards the west coast. Our tree nursery is one of the sources of rare montane willow planting stock for the pioneering work on mountain woodlands NTS delivers at Ben Lawers in highland Perthshire.
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/west-affric
RSPB
Our partnership work with the RSPB has been based at their Corrimony reserve in Glen Urquhart. Our volunteers have been working with the RSPB since 1999 as part of the major forest restoration programme that they are carrying out there.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/corrimony/
Scatwell Estate, Strathconon
The largest aspen stand in the NW Highlands is in Strathconan and we have worked with the landowners here to collect roots for propagation at Dundreggan.
We work with these partners to involve a diverse range of people in forest restoration projects.
Bielefeld College
Bielefeld College, in Germany, have been bringing groups of students on our volunteer Conservation Weeks since 2007.
Conservation Volunteers International Programme
Conservation Volunteers International Program is dedicated to helping sustain some of the world’s greatest landscapes, cultural sites, and biodiversity.
Gateway
A homelessness charity based in Inverness that works with vulnerable people within the community. Trees for Life is working with Gateway to offer nature experience days for a small group of their service users.
Govan Community Project
A Glasgow based charity working with and for all the diverse communities of the Greater Govan area and beyond.
http://www.govancommunityproject.org.uk/
Greenbuds
A stem of the Dundee Association for Mental Health, they are a project who supports individuals to access the outdoors to improve mental health and wellbeing. They have been bringing groups on conservation weeks for several years.
Highland Green Health Partnership
This is an umbrella organisation overseen by the NHS and Scottish Natural Heritage. It acts as a network for charities and agencies which work to improve wellbeing through nature and outdoor activity.
http://www.highlandcpp.org.uk/hghp.html
Moray Wellbeing Hub
A touchpoint charity for mental health and wellbeing concerns throughout Moray, the Moray Wellbeing Hub provides us with training and advice in running volunteer activities that improve people’s mental health. The Hub and Trees for Life are continuing to explore the potential for our volunteer programme to contribute to people’s recoveries.
http://moraywellbeinghub.org.uk/
Responsible Travel
Our volunteer Conservation Weeks are listed with this provider of ethical and environmentally-friendly holidays.
https://www.responsibletravel.com/
Signpost
Signpost provides support and guidance to third sector organisations and individuals. This includes maintaining a database of local volunteering opportunities and matching prospective volunteers with our volunteering opportunities.
tsiMoray
A dynamic local charity set up to support and promote volunteering, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
Trees for Life is grateful to the following trusts and foundations who provide significant funding to support our work.
BrITE Foundation
Cairngorms National Park Authority
European Outdoor Conservation Association (ECOA)
Fern Community Fund
Forest Peace Foundation
Forestry Grants Scheme
Fred Foundation
Heritage Lottery Fund
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation
Lund Trust
Northwick Trust
Orr Mackintosh Foundation
People’s Trust for Endangered Species
Rewilding Britain
Richard Fraser Charitable Trust
Sigrid Rausing Trust
Simon Gibson Trust
Soirbheas
The Orp Foundation
Treadright Foundation
Woodland Trust Scotland
