THOUSANDS of trees across Scotland are set to be catalogued in a wide-ranging survey aimed at protecting the nation’s ancient and native woodlands.
The project, launched by the National Trust for Scotland, will cover everything from mountainsides to grounds around castles and stately homes.
As reported by STV, the initiative seeks to identify pa5rticularly old or unusual specimens while also preparing for the future by planting younger replacements.
Alan Crawford, senior nature conservation officer at the trust, said that while some estates hold records of individual trees, no comprehensive dataset currently exists.
“The first step is understanding what we’ve got, where it is, and how it’s distributed,” he explained.
Ancient and veteran trees, he added, are vital both for the ecosystems they support and the cultural history they represent.
Many of the trees set to be surveyed are centuries old, strikingly shaped, and often described as miniature ecosystems in themselves.
Each tree surveyed will be classified as ancient, veteran, or notable, depending on its age, condition, and characteristics.
Some of these specimens grow in upland areas of native woodland or on rugged crags and gullies.
Others are found in lowland landscapes, lining avenues, parklands, and the grounds of historic houses.
With many trees nearing the end of their lives, the trust is also focused on ensuring replacements are planted.
Crawford warned that while old trees may appear timeless, new generations are not always establishing themselves.
“We want younger trees to mature and take on the same ecological roles before the old ones disappear,” he said.
He added that a survey carried out a century earlier would have prevented the loss of several missing generations.
Funding for the first phase comes from the People’s Postcode Lottery, which has contributed more than £3.4 million to trust projects in the past decade.
