Woodland Trust Scotland
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Woodland Trust Scotland
@wtscotsocial.bsky.social
3.3K followers 330 following 820 posts
The Scotland arm of the UK's largest woodland conservation charity. We create, protect & restore native woods & trees for people & wildlife, to combat climate change & build a greener future.
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This week's #ThickTrunkTuesday is a cracker! The Balmerino Chestnut. Fife’s oldest tree, thought to be around 450 years of age. Tis lovely to read personal memories of the tree on the Ancient Tree Inventory website 👉 buff.ly/fDd6bm5 Search the site to find ancient trees near you. #AncientTrees
Huge ancient sweet chestnut tree. Twisted branches emerge from two main trunks close to the ground. Leaves are autumnal rust brown and some leaves have fallen to the ground. Credit JillD-WTML Huge ancient sweet chestnut tree. Two main trunks split close to the ground and the trunk is twisted. There are 5 metal supports connecting old branches to the ground and a wooden support too. Leaves are autumnal brown and some leaves have fallen to the ground. Credit JillD-WTML A side view of an ancient sweet chestnut tree clearly showing it's characteristic twisted trunk bark. Two green metal supports are clearly visible. the sky is blue and leaves autumnal brown. Credit JillD-WTML Woman standing in front of a large ancient sweet chestnut tree which appears to be 3 or 4 x as wide as she is. Two main trunks emerge close to the ground and the trunk bark is twisted. There are several metal supports visible. Leaves are autumnal brown and some leaves have fallen to the ground. Credit JillD-WTML
November 11, 2025 at 8:02 AM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
"Owl be seeing you!"

📸 Such a great shot by Rosanna Forbes.👏

🦉 😄 🌳
An owl peeks out from behind a tree trunk with just its tail visible on the left and one eye on the right. Pic by Rosanna Forbes.
November 10, 2025 at 12:17 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
We love a good collective noun and there are lots of crackers for rooks, including congregation, storytelling, building, parliament and clamour.

The bird's Latin name Corvus frugilegus means "fruit-gathering crow".

📸 Pics by George Anderson.🐦‍⬛
Close up side view of a large bird with glossy black feathers with a blueish tinge. Full body shot of a large black bird.
November 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
To support jobs across the nations and to protect our environment from new imported pests & diseases, we should only be planting trees that are UK & Ireland Sourced and Grown (#UKISG). The next Scot Gov should commit to meeting UKISG standards in tree procurement & work with industry to deliver.
Blue graphic with grey leaves and a white WTS logo. White text on graphic reads, 'The next Scottish Government should only procure trees sourced and grown in the UK and Ireland, to support jobs and promote biosecurity.'
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
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Great to meet with #ScottishForestry Highland Conservancy team near #Ullapool this week, quite the view! The topic: establishing trees on marginal, upland areas. We talked tree species, provenance, natural regen vs planting & constraints such as exposure, soil minerals, peat & deer. Super useful.
A group of 8 people stand in front of a dramatic hillscape. In the foreground, are clumps of young Scot's pine growing amongst heather. Credit WTML
November 7, 2025 at 12:01 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
🍂 #Autumn colour is just about hanging on across Scotland.
🧡What's your favourite thing about Autumn?
Thanks 📷 Aileen Louden, David Nash & Anita Nicholson (all Woodland Trust Media Library).
A red squirrel is perched on a stump amongst some heather. Credit Aileen Louden / WTML A landscape shot of an autumnal wood. The wood is largely made up of beech trees with deep orange coloured leaves. Credit David Nash / WTML. Two spherical fungi sit amongst the leaf litter. Credit Anita Nicholson / WTML.
November 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
Fantastic to visit Phil's wildlife #croft on the Isle of Skye last week 🌳
Phil is managing the woodland to maximise benefits for biodiversity, improve productivity and support enterprises such as a tree nursery, the production of wood fuel and the sale of hardy fruit trees🪵
👏 Inspiring stuff!
1/2
A man speaks to a group of people in a field with broadleaf trees in the background.
November 6, 2025 at 10:01 AM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
⚠️Hedgehogs and other hibernating creatures are at risk on #BonfireNight.🦔Please build your bonfire in an open space WELL AWAY from trees and hedges. 🔥Check before lighting to make sure there are no creatures hiding in there. 💦 Dampen ashes with water to avoid animal injuries.
A hedgehog curled up in a ball, nestled in the grass. John Bridges / WTML
November 5, 2025 at 12:03 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
It's clear our native and ancient trees need more protection. It's still too easy to chop them down or damage them - there are gaps in existing protections.

New legislation could close these gaps and protect Scotland's native trees for the future.
#MairTreesPlease #ManifestoAsk #ScotParlElection26
Blue graphic with grey leaves and a WTS logo. Text reads, 'A Tree Protection Bill should be introduced in the next Scottish Parliament to ensure Scotland's trees are properly protected.'
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 AM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
We're delighted a £250,000 gift from a supporter has helped us buy Glen Quey Moss - a 57 hectare area of bog and grassland that now makes up part of #GlenDevon Woodlands in central Scotland. The new site bridges a gap essentially connecting a network of 1200 hectares of conservation land...1/2
Aerial image of a large area of bog and grassland surrounded by young native woodland. Credit AngusMackie/WTML Reservoir surrounded by large area of new native woodland and some conifer plantation forestry. Credit AngusMackie/WTML.
November 4, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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A gentle reminder not to dump your Halloween #pumpkins in our woods (or indeed anywhere!)🎃 Dumped pumpkins can disturb the sensitive balance of woodland soils. Plus removing the waste costs time & money better spent on vital conservation work. 🌱
Pumpkins belong in your food waste or compost bin.♻️🙏
Around 4 pumpkins, broken up into small pieces and left at the foot of a tree. Credit WTML Remnants of a smashed pumpkin lying on the grass. In the background the sun is setting on a woodland. Credit WTML.
November 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
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The Scottish Government pledged to deliver a comprehensive National Register of Ancient Woodland in 2021. This commitment remains undelivered.

A Register remains vital for clarity on where our ancient woodland is, so we can protect it.

#MairTreesPlease #ManifestoAsk #ScotParlElection26
Blue graphic with leaves and a WTS logo. Reads, 'The next Scottish Government must deliver the long-awaited National register of Ancient Woodland.'
November 3, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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Great to see #LochArkaig pine forest feature alongside a feast of Scotland's wildlife in the 4th & final episode of Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles tonight. @hamzayassin.bsky.social we're sorry you didn't manage to film those elusive wild boar in person. Come back soon! Watch👉https://buff.ly/gAHWwKF
An aerial view of a family of 4 wild boar in the forest. Credit BHWildifeConsultancy 2 men standing in an area of felled plantation forestry. Credit BHWildifeConsultancy A montage of images featuring the naturalist Hamza Yassin smilingagainst a backdrop that is a mixed pine and broadleaf forest with a bird, red squirrel and a wild boar in the background.
November 2, 2025 at 7:17 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
The next Scottish Government should require & incentivise the restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites on private & public land. Scotland needs commercial forestry but not at the direct expense of precious native woodland on which so many conifer plantations are located. #MairTreesPlease
Blue graphic with leaf print and WTS logo which reads, 'The next Scottish Government should create an action plan to restore Plantation on Ancient Woodlands Sites (PAWS) to nature.
November 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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Missing the #ArkaigOspreys now they've migrated? Fear not! We've put together a wee 2025 season summary for fans (featuring the voice of our very own George.) Full length vid 👉 buff.ly/cwT4X3l .Thanks players of People's #PostcodeLottery for your sustained support of all our work at #LochArkaig🙏.
November 1, 2025 at 9:15 AM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
👻 Things are getting spooky - even the trees! Let's talk about tree #Folklore.

🍂 Our lives have been closely linked with #Trees since prehistoric times. Swipe through to learn about their rich history 👉

If you’re looking for your very own mystery tree, head to our #TreeShop🌳 bit.ly/4n1EyrR
Image of blackthorn branch and berries with text - It has been referred to as a witch’s tree and anyone carrying a walking stick made from blackthorn wood was suspected of being a witch. Image of elder berries and leaf with text - If you burned elder wood you would see the devil but if you planted one by your house it would keep the devil at bay. Image of yew leaf/needles and berry with text - Yew trees are taken as symbols of immortality in many traditions but are also seen as omens of doom. Image of rowan leaf and berries with text - The old Celtic name is fid na ndruad which means wizard's tree; today sprigs of rowan are still hung above doors and stables at Halloween to keep away evil spirits.
October 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
Can you help restore Scotland's precious temperate rainforest by
🥬Raising the profile of ancient woodland?
🥬Managing partner relationships & projects?
🥬Providing advice to landowners & managers?
This really is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference.
Apply 👉 buff.ly/VyWT9BL
Green graphic with yellow leaf border and a Woodland Trust Scotland logo. It reads. 'Job Opportunity. Outreach Adviser Scotland's rainforest. Closes 16 Nov 2025.'
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
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Some of our community engagement team enjoyed a 'climate wellbeing' workshop in an autumnal Little Druim Wood #GlenFinglas in Sep. Thoughtful & fun activities supported a collective approach to dealing with the climate crisis. We highly recommend working with Rea, always uplifting! buff.ly/dhmTAwK
Aerial image of the tree covered hills around Loch Venachar. The water narrrows at the end of the loch to become a marsh and autumnal colours are visible on the trees. There is a mountainous backdrop. Credit Jonathan Doyle media.
October 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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What's your favourite fun #Halloween craft activity? Our is most definitely painting mini pumpkins (out of conkers, naturally). Making a bat out of a loo roll tube comes a close second though😅. Go on give it a go. These and more spooktacular ideas ▶️ buff.ly/VjnOrFZ #OutdoorLearning
A pile of conkers, some painted orange with red stripes and with black eyes and a mouth drawn onto them so they look like tiny pumpkins. Credit: Kayleigh Jacobs-Rutter / WTML. A cardboard toilet roll decorated to look like a bat. It is painted black with two white eyes and a mouth drawn on it and two leaves, also painted black glued to the back as wings. The top of the tube is folded to create the illusion of ears. Credit: Kayleigh Jacobs-Rutter / WTML.
October 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
Scotland's deer population is too high for nature recovery & makes tree planting costly because of the need for fencing & tubes. By incentivising active deer management & building up venison supply chains, the next Scot Gov can support landowners to reduce deer numbers & help Scotland's woodlands.
Graphic with blue background, leaf print and WTS logo. It reads 'The next Scottish Government should provide strong incentives for active deer control, so our native woods and trees can regenerate naturally.'
October 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
The Natural Environment Bill however is a welcome step. It paves the way for legally binding nature recovery targets which help break a daunting task down into achievable chunks. And it allows regular progress monitoring – vital in a nature depleted country like Scotland. 3/4
October 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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This is a big week in the Scottish Parliament, with the Land Reform Bill at Stage 3 (Tue-Wed) and the Natural Environment Bill at Stage 1 (Thu). Let’s take a quick look at each in turn. First, the Land Reform Bill: a lost opportunity. 🧵 1/4
October 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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🔜 It's nearly #TreePlanting season!

Fancy planting a tree? Come along to #Knightsridge Wood in #Livingston to help us replant native broadleaf trees.🌳

⏰ Sat 29th Nov, 10am-2pm
🆓 Booking at 👉 buff.ly/ngWMIX5
📍 Knightsridge Wood

📷 Credit John Banks
Three men stand by a large stump. They are holding spades and surrounded by newly planted trees in recycled tree guards.
October 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
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Lynx belong in Scotland. Evidence shows they play an important role in a balanced natural environment, predating on species .e.g. roe deer. The next Scot Gov should abandon its unscientific opposition to native lynx & work with farmers, orgs & communities to trial lynx re-introductions in Scotland.
Graphic with blue background, leaf print and WTS logo. It reads 'The next Scottish Government should commit to facilitating the return of our native Eurasian Lynx to Scotland.'
October 27, 2025 at 5:07 PM
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Too often, nature budgets take the first hit when the Scottish Government is looking for cash. That needs to stop. If we're serious, nature budgets must be increased to make nature restoration targets (including woodland creation) possible.
#MairTreesPlease #ManifestoAsk #ScotParlElection26
Graphic with blue background, leaf print and WTS logo. It reads 'The next Scottish Government should reverse past nature and woodland cuts and increase funding so targets are realistic.'
October 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM