Clean Planet Foundation’s Tree Seed Collection Project surpasses 9.3 million native tree seeds

The Clean Planet Foundation is pleased to share that its Tree Seed Collection Project, delivered in collaboration with Trees for Life and the Woodland Trust Scotland, has reached a major new milestone.

Following the Foundation’s previous announcement that the project had collected an estimated 5.2 million native tree seeds, the latest collection season has added a further 4.1 million predicted germinable seeds, bringing the project total to approximately:

9.3 million native tree seeds collected so far

From those seeds, the project now represents the potential to grow more than 6.3 million native trees across Scotland, helping restore ancient woodlands, strengthen biodiversity, and support a more resilient future for Scotland’s landscapes.

The latest report records 4,127,875 predicted seeds and 2,853,954 likely trees from the October 2025 to March 2026 collection period.

The Clean Planet Foundation is the largest private backer of the project.

Another major season of seed collection

The latest collection season has continued the project’s strong momentum, with volunteers and project teams gathering 505.988 kg of raw seed across Scotland.

In total, the season delivered:

• 170 seed batches collected, with 212 individual batches posted in by volunteers.

• 505.988 kg of raw seed gathered, supported by a strong Oak mast year.

• 4.1 million predicted germinable seeds added during the latest season.

• 2.8 million likely trees that could be grown from this season’s collections.

• 38 kg of Hazel nuts successfully stratified at Dundreggan Nursery and distributed to nurseries from East Lothian to Orkney and Shetland.

• All seed batches distributed to UKISG nurseries for sowing in spring 2026.

Species collected during the season include Alder, Downy

, Silver Birch, Blackthorn, Wild Cherry, Elder, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Juniper, Sessile Oak, Pedunculate Oak, Rowan, Willow, Yew and Guelder Rose.

A particularly strong Oak year helped the project increase collections of Sessile Oak across western Scotland, while the team also improved collections of Yew, Wild Cherry and Elder from harder-to-collect locations and priority seed zones.

Science, strategy and seed journeys

Each batch needs to be identified, recorded, processed, certified and distributed so it can support the right nurseries, regions and future planting schemes.

During this latest phase, all seed batches were distributed to UKISG nurseries for spring 2026 sowing, with 68 seed batches stratified, pre-treated and posted.

All Master Certificates have also now been emailed to UKISG nurseries, helping ensure accurate tracking from seed collection through to future tree sales and planting.

The project is now also set up with the Forestry Reproductive Material Team to manage its own future “intent to collect” submissions and Master Certificates from spring 2026 onwards, strengthening the systems that sit behind the project’s long-term seed supply work.

Wild Aspen experiment begins

One of the most exciting developments this season was the project’s first Wild Aspen Seed Experiment.

The team piloted manual pollination in the wild at The Plock and Sandaig in Lochalsh, using pollen kindly donated by Dundreggan Nursery. The project also identified its first male Aspen tree in Kintail.

This work is being carried out in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland, Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust, Corrary Farm Tree Nursery and Dundreggan Tree Nursery.

Aspen propagation remains an important area of focus, with further work planned across Crinan, Dunollie, Orkney, Glen Finglas and potentially the Isle of Skye. These efforts will help build clonal diversity and support the recovery of native Aspen populations in Scotland.

Volunteers at the heart of the project

The project’s volunteer network continues to be central to its success.

The Tree Seed Collection Project now has around 100 registered volunteers, with 14 new volunteers joining existing hubs and further recruitment underway in areas including Assynt and Lochinver.

In March 2026, the project hosted its third Celebration Weekend at Dundreggan, bringing together 24 volunteers alongside Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland colleagues.

The weekend included workshops in Birch tapping and besom making, ancient woodland identification, woodland ecology, sensory encounters, tree seed dispersal, night-time sensory experiences and Gaelic in the landscape.

Feedback from the weekend was extremely positive, with 100% of respondents very satisfied with the overall weekend experience.

From one million seeds to over nine million

When the Clean Planet Foundation first supported this work, the ambition was to collect and conserve one million native tree seeds.

The project has now grown far beyond that original target.

With the latest season adding another 4.1 million predicted germinable seeds, the Tree Seed Collection Project has now surpassed 9.3 million native tree seeds collected so far, representing the potential to grow more than 6.3 million native trees across Scotland.

From Oak and Alder to Aspen, Willow, Hazel and Juniper, these seeds are helping create a living legacy for generations to come.

Learn more about the Clean Planet Foundation and the Tree Seed Collection Project - right here