Clean Planet Foundation’s Tree Seed Collection Project amasses 5.2 Million Seeds
Clean Planet Group- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The Clean Planet Foundation has today announced that their Tree Seed Collection Project, in collaboration with Trees for Life and the Woodland Trust Scotland, has continued to smash its targets.
What began as an ambitious effort to collect and conserve one million seeds from native tree species across Scotland has now blossomed into one of the Foundation’s most impactful initiatives to date.
Following an announcement in November last year which saw 2.2 million seeds collected, the Foundation is excited to share that the total seeds collected since then has more than doubled. An estimated 5.2 million seeds have now been collected, representing the potential to grow over 3.5 million native trees across Scotland.
Season of Growth and Milestones
To date the project has delivered several key achievements:
244 kg of raw seed was gathered during the autumn collection season.
Five dedicated collection locations were held at Loch Arkaig, Crinan Woods, Dunollie Woods, and the Isle of Skye.
The project hosted the first-ever joint Western Isles and Isle of Skye volunteer weekend, creating new opportunities for community engagement in remote regions.
Collaborations with local organisations like Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) helped strengthen links between ecological restoration and regional economic development.
The project’s work was featured in The Guardian, where a correspondent and photographer shadowed the teams to learn more about native tree species restoration and volunteer action.
Isle of Skye and Western Isles Joint Weekend – also joined by The Guardian reporter and photographer.
Species collected this period include Rowan, Hazel, Alder, Juniper, Downy Birch, and more — each one contributing to the biodiversity of Scotland’s native woodlands.
Science, Strategy and Seeds
The progress of the project goes far beyond the original seed collection goals. In addition to the collection, the teams have worked intensively on:
GIS mapping and botanical research, including contractor-led data collection on aspen and juniper populations in zones 102–106.
Coordination with UKISG nurseries to prepare batches for stratification, germination, and sowing.
Continuing propagation work from aspen root cuttings, with the second year of root collection beginning in Crinan and Dunollie.
Enhanced data tracking through the Seed Depot system, ensuring accurate batch triaging, processing timelines, and nursery distribution.
Volunteers collecting at Leitir Fura (FLS) Ancient Woodland and the Uig Woods (Woodland Trust).
The volunteer network also grew significantly, with over 3,100 volunteer hours contributed in 2024 alone.
Looking Ahead: Roots for the Future
With a strong foundation in place, the Tree Seed Collection Project is now entering a critical phase of planning for its next lifecycle. Discussions are ongoing regarding the continuation of the project beyond May 2026, with expanded efforts across the Western Isles, Orkney, and Assynt already in early development.
A new focus for early 2025 includes:
Securing additional landowner permissions to access priority collection zones.
Coordinating closely with nurseries for tree order forecasting and fulfilment.
Continuing to map and identify collection opportunities for Montane willow and birch, species critical to climate resilience in upland and remote areas.
Hazel collecting with TfL volunteers and ACT (Argyll Coast and Countryside Trust) as part of the ASR collaborations with volunteering and ACT’s plans to establish their own tree nursery
As the world marks Love a Tree Day, the Foundation is reminded that behind every tree is a seed — and behind every seed is a network of people who believe in nature’s power to restore itself. The work of the project’s volunteers, contractors, landowners, and community partners is not only helping rewild degraded ecosystems, but also creating a living legacy for generations to come.
🌱 Want to get involved?
Whether you're an individual, school, community group, or business, there are plenty of ways to support our rewilding mission. Contact us to learn more about volunteering opportunities or support the Clean Planet Foundation.
Or why not watch our New York and Cannes award-winning documentary, Behind The Trees, which talks about this project.
