Caledonian Woodland Project
New Caledonian Woodlands is playing a role in the movement to replant and restore native species woodland throughout Scotland. More than 80% of Scotland used to be covered in native species woodland, yet today that figure is less than 10%, one of the lowest rates in Europe. More positively, Scotland is one of the few nations in the world where the percentage cover of native species woodlands is actually growing.
The benefits of planting trees as part of a well managed and well designed woodland regeneration project are significant and wide-ranging. These benefits have a great deal of relevance to many of the issues that our society faces today and include:
- enhancing biodiversity, thus supporting a broad range of species, ranging from plants and mosses to insects, birds and animals;
- providing a beautiful and uplifting setting for people, which scientific research has shown can have a statistically significant benefit in terms of improved physical and mental well-being;
- minimising the extent of climate change through:
- sustainable use of a valuable resource by increasing the use of wood instead of materials with higher embedded energy, such as coal and cement,
- sequestration of carbon dioxide alongside greenhouse gas emissions reductions – not instead of them.
All of the trees which we plant are native to Scotland, while seeds are locally sourced, to ensure that the genetic stock of the native woodlands is preserved. All of our trees are planted on sites that have been carefully chosen to ensure that they will be able to grow to full maturity, so that they can benefit humanity and nature far into the future.
We think that woodlands planted by local people will be more highly valued in the future and so would love for you to become involved in our project and there are two key ways that you can do this:
Gifts that grow
Purchase a tree or trees as a gift for a friend or family member, or even just as a gift to be shared between yourself and nature. We will plant these trees on your behalf at one of our woodland sites and will manage these woodlands for the long term.
When you plant a tree with us, you will receive a named certificate, stating where your tree(s) is/are planted. We will e-mail you annually to update you on the progress of the woodland where your tree has been planted.
1 tree - £10; 3 trees - £20; 5 trees - £30; 10 trees - £50
If you would like to plant more trees, or represent an organisation and would like to discuss larger-scale planting, please contact us so that we can tailor a package to your needs.
Tree planting events
Spend a day or a weekend on one of our tree planting projects. You will plant lots of trees and also learn about woodlands and about the role they play in the environment at both a local and a global level.
Our tree planting events take place through the tree planting season, from October through to March at a variety of woodlands. They offer a great way to meet new people, get out and about in the beautiful Scottish countryside and get fit. On top of all that, you will know exactly where your trees have been planted and so will be able to come back and visit them as they mature.
Our aim is for these events to be education, productive and fun.
Each place on our tree planting event costs £15, which includes transport to and from Edinburgh, an amazing lunch courtesy of Embo Deli and lots of trees.
