Borders Forest Trust is a Scottish environmental charity dedicated to restoring native woodlands and enhancing biodiversity in Southern Scotland. Their work centers on large-scale ecological restoration and rewilding, most notably turning the bare Carrifran Valley into a thriving wildwood, with over 2 million trees planted across their sites to date.
Key Aspects of the Work:
Ecological Restoration: The primary focus is creating and expanding native woodlands, such as at Carrifran Wildwood, Talla and Gameshope, and Corehead.
Tree Planting: Over 25 years, BFT has transformed barren landscapes into functional ecosystems, planting over half a million trees in just one of their main projects.
Biodiversity & Conservation: Efforts focus on habitat creation, allowing native species to return to the landscape.
Community Engagement: The trust involves volunteers in planting days and encourages local community participation in land stewardship.
Support & Advisory: BFT provides advice to landowners, helps with woodland design, and assists with access to funding for tree planting.
The trust aims to restore the landscape to its original, ancient state, creating a "wild heart" in the Southern Uplands.