Trees for Life

Overview

Trees for Life is one of the UK's longest-established rewilding charities. Founded in 1993, its mission is to regenerate and restore the native woodlands of Scotland and their associated wildlife. While many charities protect existing habitats, Trees for Life is explicitly focused on expanding and reconnecting ancient Caledonian forest across the Highlands.

The charity works on the ground at Dundreggan and other sites, grows native trees from locally collected seed, runs volunteer weeks and has helped to create one of the most ambitious landscape-scale rewilding initiatives in Britain.

Dundreggan Estate

Dundreggan, purchased by Trees for Life in 2008, is the charity's flagship rewilding estate near Glenmoriston in the Highlands. The site combines native tree planting with natural regeneration, deer management and ecological monitoring. A tree nursery on the estate grows saplings from seed collected locally, ensuring planting uses genetically appropriate stock.

Conservation grazing pressure has been reduced so seedlings can establish, and the estate has become an important site for biodiversity research. Rare species, including golden eagles, have returned to nest, and the estate hosts thousands of recorded plant and animal species.

Dundreggan also serves as a base for visitors. The estate offers accommodation and hosts volunteer weeks, making it one of the most accessible ways to experience hands-on rewilding in Scotland.

Affric Highlands

The Affric Highlands partnership is one of Britain's largest landscape-scale rewilding projects, covering more than 200,000 hectares of the central Highlands. It grew from work led by Trees for Life with Rewilding Europe and has since launched as an independent charity.

The project aims to restore forest, peatland, river systems and mountain habitats across a vast contiguous area over 30 years. By connecting existing native woodland fragments, reducing grazing pressure and reintroducing missing species where appropriate, Affric Highlands is attempting to show what nature recovery looks like at a scale that can support genuinely self-sustaining wildlife populations.

Volunteering & Visiting

Trees for Life's volunteer weeks are among the best-known practical rewilding experiences in the UK. Participants spend a week at Dundreggan or another site planting trees, removing invasive species, collecting seed or monitoring wildlife. No prior experience is needed, and the weeks are open to individuals and groups.

The charity also offers membership, donations and an online shop. For those who cannot travel to the Highlands, adopting a tree or making a regular donation supports the nursery and planting programmes directly.

How to Support Trees for Life

You can support Trees for Life by becoming a member, donating, adopting a tree, buying from its shop or booking a volunteer week. Businesses can also partner with the charity for corporate volunteering or sponsorship.

Visit treesforlife.org.uk to find current volunteer weeks, membership options and the latest project news.

Related Grange Project Content

For more on Scottish rewilding, see our Rewilding in Scotland guide, which covers Dundreggan, Cairngorms Connect and other major projects.