Festival goers encouraged to donate trees

Conservation charity Trees for Life is encouraging people going to the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to have their own trees planted.

Organisers of the festival in the Highlands are calling on attendees to help mitigate the carbon impact of travelling to the festival near Inverness through donations to fund native trees.

The donated trees will be planted at Trees for Life's Dundreggan Conservation Estate - a 10,000 acre forest regeneration site and biodiversity hotspot in Glenmoriston near Loch Ness. So far Trees for Life’s volunteers have established 1.7 million native trees, and the charity is also successfully reintroducing red squirrels to suitable woodlands across the Highlands.

Steve Micklewright, Trees for Life’s Chief Executive, said:

"We’re delighted Bella is helping to bring back one of the world’s most magical forest habitats. As well as trees, rewilding is about people, culture and place – so it’s wonderful to connect nature, music and the wild spirit of the Highlands like this."

Claire Clark from the Belladrum Festival said:

"The wild Caledonian Forest once covered much of the Highlands, but today only one per cent remains – which we think is a really big problem. So we’re asking Bella-goers to help. Every £6 donation will allow Trees for Life to plant a native tree – a lasting legacy, and a great, green way to give back to nature when visiting Bella 2019."

Trees for Life will have a dedicated presence at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival from 1-3 August.

Everyone who dedicates trees through the Bella initiative will have their names included in a tally of tree planters at www.treesforlife.org.uk/bella, and will be invited to a celebration day at Dundreggan in September – with music, activities and opportunities to plant their own tree or to see it being planted. 

People can support Trees for Life by becoming members, volunteering, and by funding their own dedicated trees and groves. Go to the Trees for Life website for more details.