Thousands of additional trees for Highland nature reserve

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has annouced that an additional 20,000 trees will be planted in and around Beinn Eighe next year.

The commitment was made at the start of Scotland's Climate Week and is part of work to expand native woodlands on some of the country's National Nature Reserves (NNRs).

​With its ancient Caledonian pine forest, Beinn Eighe in Wester Ross was the first NNR in the UK, designated in 1951. Since then 800,000 trees have been planted at the reserve, mostly Scots pine as well as additional broadleaf species such as birch, aspen, holly, rowan and oak.

Woodland expansion is part of the solution to the climate emergency, helping to increase biodiversity, conserve Scottish species and help society and economy adapt to climate change, for example by reducing potential for flooding and reducing the effects of heatwaves.

Every year native woodlands in SNH's nature reserve capture a total of more than 30,000 tonnes of 'greenhouse gases', the equivalent of removing around 10,000 vehicles from the roads.

Stuart MacQuarrie, SNH Head of Nature Reserves, said: “Beinn Eighe is renowned for its beautiful ancient pinewoods and we have long managed the reserve to expand and enhance this special woodland.

“Planting a further 20,000 native trees will help increase the nature reserve’s biodiversity, restore habitats to healthy ecosystems and provide greater resilience against the effects of climate change.

“Nature-based solutions such as woodland expansion are a crucial part of the solution to the global climate emergency, and this is another important step towards ensuring a nature-rich future for Scotland.”