Trees for Life
Trees for Life is a Scottish conservation charity focused on rewilding the Highlands and restoring the Caledonian Forest.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Trees for Life is a Scottish conservation charity whose work centres on restoring the Caledonian Forest and rewilding damaged landscapes in the Scottish Highlands. Founded in 1986 by Alan Watson Featherstone as a project associated with the Findhorn Foundation, the organisation developed from an idea-driven conservation initiative into an independent charity undertaking woodland restoration, ecological monitoring, habitat creation, environmental education and public engagement. Its practical work began in 1989, and it held its first volunteer week in 1991. The organisation became an independent registered charity in 1993. The charity’s central ecological objective is to help regenerate native woodland and the wider ecosystem of the Highlands. The Caledonian Forest is a remnant of the extensive native forest that once covered much of northern Scotland. Trees for Life’s approach is not limited to planting trees: it combines the propagation and planting of native species with natural regeneration, protection of young trees, restoration of associated habitats, and the recovery of wildlife and ecological processes. The organisation presents rewilding as a means of supporting biodiversity, climate resilience and local communities, including through employment, volunteering, tourism and the long-term repopulation of rural areas. A major turning point came in August 2008, when Trees for Life acquired the 4,100-hectare Dundreggan Estate in Glenmoriston. The estate became a principal base for large-scale restoration and a prominent demonstration of how damaged upland landscapes can be managed for native forest recovery. The charity’s long-term vision for Dundreggan is a diverse, functioning wild landscape with extensive natural forest cover and the return of native wildlife. In 2020, golden eagles returned to breed at the estate for the first time in approximately four decades, an event that illustrated the broader ecological ambitions of the project. Trees for Life has also worked across Glen Affric, one of the most significant surviving fragments of Caledonian Forest, and in nearby landscapes including Glen Cannich, Achnashellach and Corrimony. Its partnerships have included Forestry and Land Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. These collaborations allow restoration work to extend beyond individual reserves and estates into connected landscapes. In April 2023, the organisation opened the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre at its Glenmoriston estate. Described as the first centre of its kind in the world, it was created to make rewilding accessible to visitors and communities through interpretation, learning, cultural programming and direct engagement with the estate’s restoration work. The centre gives the charity a public-facing platform alongside its conservation operations and volunteer programmes. Trees for Life is also a partner in Affric Highlands, a 30-year landscape-scale initiative with Rewilding Europe. The programme aims to restore woodland, peatland and riverside habitats across a large area of the Scottish Highlands while supporting sustainable local economies and community participation. In June 2022, the initiative was recommended for flagship recognition by the Scottish and United Kingdom governments in the context of international nature-restoration work. Overall, Trees for Life is positioned as a mission-led environmental organisation rather than a conventional commercial brand, with its identity built around native woodland recovery, practical rewilding, volunteering and public education.
History
Trees for Life was established in 1986 by Alan Watson Featherstone as a project under the Findhorn Foundation. The organisation emerged from a concern that Scotland’s remaining native woodland needed active protection and expansion, and that forest restoration could contribute to both ecological recovery and human well-being. Practical conservation activity began in 1989, followed by the first volunteer week in 1991. These early programmes helped establish a model based on hands-on restoration, public participation and the long-term regeneration of native species. In 1993, Trees for Life became an independent registered charity. Its principal objective has been the restoration of the Caledonian Forest, a fragmented native ecosystem in the Scottish Highlands. Rather than treating tree planting as an isolated activity, the organisation has worked to support natural regeneration, protect young trees from browsing, restore habitat connectivity and encourage the return of wildlife. Its work has included Glen Cannich and Glen Affric, where important remnants of the Caledonian Forest survive, as well as partnerships with Forestry and Land Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. The organisation expanded into additional Highland landscapes, including Glenmoriston, Achnashellach and Corrimony. At Corrimony, it worked with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. These partnerships enabled Trees for Life to operate across a wider ecological area and to connect woodland restoration with peatland, riverside and wildlife recovery. A defining development occurred in August 2008, when Trees for Life bought the 4,100-hectare Dundreggan Estate in Glenmoriston. The acquisition gave the charity direct stewardship of a substantial landscape and a long-term base for demonstrating rewilding at scale. Dundreggan became associated with native tree nurseries, forest restoration, ecological research, volunteering and public learning. The charity’s stated ambition for the estate is to restore a diverse wild landscape in which native forest cover and wildlife can expand over time. Ecological changes at Dundreggan have included the return of breeding golden eagles in 2020, after an absence of roughly 40 years. While one species’ return does not by itself measure the full success of a restoration programme, it became an important public illustration of the potential benefits of long-term habitat recovery. Trees for Life later developed the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, which opened in April 2023. The centre was designed to connect visitors with the principles and practice of rewilding through exhibitions, interpretation, education and activities linked to the estate. Its opening broadened the organisation’s public role, complementing field conservation and volunteer work with a dedicated visitor and learning facility. At a wider landscape scale, Trees for Life became involved with Affric Highlands, a 30-year initiative developed with Rewilding Europe. The programme seeks to restore woodland, peatland and riverside habitats while supporting local communities, employment and sustainable rural development. In June 2022, Scottish and UK governments recommended Affric Highlands for flagship recognition in an international nature-restoration context. Today, Trees for Life remains an active Scottish conservation charity whose identity combines rewilding advocacy with practical land management. Its work spans native tree growing, woodland establishment, habitat restoration, ecological partnerships, volunteer programmes and public education. The organisation’s long-term approach is intended to create connected, resilient Highland landscapes in which native forests, wildlife and communities can coexist.
- 2023
Dundreggan Rewilding Centre opens
[1]The organisation opened the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre at the Dundreggan Estate.
- 2022
Affric Highlands recommended for flagship status
[1]The Affric Highlands initiative was recommended for flagship status by the Scottish and UK governments.
- 2020
Golden eagles breed at Dundreggan
[1]Golden eagles returned to breed at Dundreggan after an absence of approximately 40 years.
- 2008
Dundreggan Estate acquired
[1]The charity purchased the 4,100-hectare Dundreggan Estate in Glenmoriston, one of the United Kingdom’s largest land acquisitions for forest restoration at the time.
- 1993
Becomes an independent charity
[1]Trees for Life registered as an independent Scottish charity.
- 1991
First volunteer week held
[1]Trees for Life held its first volunteer week, establishing public participation as a continuing part of its conservation model.
- 1989
Practical conservation work begins
[1]The organisation began its practical restoration activities in the Scottish Highlands.
- 1986
Trees for Life founded
[1]Alan Watson Featherstone founded Trees for Life as a project under the Findhorn Foundation, with a focus on restoring Scotland’s native Caledonian Forest.
Products and positioning
A mission-led Scottish rewilding and conservation organisation focused on restoring native Highland woodland, rebuilding biodiversity and involving communities in long-term landscape recovery.
Visitor centre and environmental education · 2023
Dundreggan Rewilding Centre
Opened in April 2023 at the Dundreggan Estate, the centre provides a public-facing introduction to rewilding and Highland ecological restoration. It supports interpretation, learning and community engagement, allowing visitors to connect the charity’s landscape work with broader questions about biodiversity, climate resilience and rural futures.
Landscape restoration · 2008
Dundreggan Estate restoration programme
The 4,100-hectare Dundreggan Estate is Trees for Life’s principal large-scale restoration landscape. Work focuses on restoring native woodland and associated habitats, supporting natural regeneration, growing native trees, monitoring wildlife and demonstrating how rewilding can benefit biodiversity and local communities.
Landscape-scale rewilding partnership
Affric Highlands
Affric Highlands is a 30-year collaborative initiative involving Trees for Life and Rewilding Europe. Its scope includes the restoration of woodland, peatland and riverside habitats across the Scottish Highlands, alongside efforts to support sustainable local economies, employment and community participation.
Conservation volunteering · 1991
Volunteer conservation programmes
Trees for Life uses volunteer participation as a practical and educational component of its restoration work. Activities have included field conservation and woodland recovery, enabling participants to contribute directly to the regeneration of native Highland ecosystems while learning about rewilding and forest ecology.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Affric Highlands
Scotland · United Kingdom
Trees for Life and Rewilding Europe developed a 30-year collaboration to restore connected woodland, peatland and riverside habitats while supporting Highland communities and sustainable rural economies.
Outcome. The initiative was recommended for flagship status by the Scottish and UK governments in June 2022.
- 2008Dundreggan Estate restoration
United Kingdom · Scotland
Trees for Life’s acquisition and restoration of Dundreggan created a long-term demonstration landscape for native woodland recovery and rewilding in the Scottish Highlands.
Outcome. The estate became a central conservation base and later hosted the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre. The return of breeding golden eagles in 2020 was one notable ecological development.
Brand decisions
2023
Open the Dundreggan Rewilding CentreProduct launchBackground
Trees for Life aimed to make rewilding more accessible to visitors, communities and learners while linking public education to its restoration work at Dundreggan.
Action taken
The organisation opened the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre at the estate in April 2023.
Aftermath
The centre added a permanent public-facing education and engagement platform to the charity’s field conservation and volunteer activities.
2008
Acquire Dundreggan EstateStrategyBackground
Trees for Life sought a substantial landscape in which it could pursue long-term forest restoration directly rather than relying solely on work conducted on partner-managed land.
Action taken
The charity purchased the 4,100-hectare Dundreggan Estate in Glenmoriston and made it a major base for rewilding, native tree propagation, volunteering and ecological restoration.
Aftermath
Dundreggan became the organisation’s best-known restoration landscape and later gained a dedicated public visitor and education centre.
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