Moray charity collects 1m tree seeds for UK vaults at Kew
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A FINDHORN-BASED conservation charity is safeguarding the survival of Scotland's trees by collecting over 1 million seeds to be stored at Kew's underground vaults.
Trees for Life has collected 1,012,231 tree seeds from the north-west Highlands and banked them in the vaults of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank as part of a project to protect the UK’s trees.
The charity has been a partner in the UK National Tree Seed Project for seven years. This was set up by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, with funding from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery to build a collection of native tree seeds for long-term conservation.
The seeds are safely banked in the underground vaults of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank – the largest wild plant seed bank in the world housing over two billion seeds – to form the UK’s first national collection of tree seeds. These play a vital role in work to protect UK woodlands, including against pests and diseases such as ash dieback and global challenges such as the effects of climate change.
The collections and associated data are available to researchers working on solutions to tackle threats facing woodlands.
Trees for Life has been working over the last five years to collect the seeds – during 70 field trips, 587 man hours, with the help of more than 50 volunteers – and has collected iconic tree species such as Scots pine, ash and elm in all weathers.
Through collection trips, the Trees for Life tree nursery team have explored more of the north-west Highlands – discovering new, bigger and more reliable populations of some native trees, such as elm and hawthorn.
The charity’s specialised tree nursery is now growing species that the team has not grown before, like wild cherry.
Emma Beckinsale, the charity’s tree nursery assistant, said: "It has been brilliant to be involved in the UK National Tree Seed Project. Exploring some of the most remote parts of the UK has been a complete joy. Our involvement has broadened the range of trees we can grow on the nursery, meaning that a greater variety of species are being planted in our rewilding areas.
"Contributing to the safeguarding of our native species in such an exciting and tangible way has been very rewarding. It would not have been possible without the support we’ve received from the team at the Millennium Seed Bank and a lot of help from volunteers, tree climbers, and staff members, so a hearty thank-you to everyone who has been involved over the last five years."
The UK National Tree Seed Project launched in May 2013 with the aim of securing genetically diverse collections of UK native trees and shrubs. So far more than 13 million tree seeds from over 70 different species have been collected across the UK.
