Trees for Life began in 1981 as a direct result of the inspiration and example of
Richard S. Barbe Baker, the 'Man of the Trees', as a
local solution to the global problem of deforestation. It forms part of the
Findhorn Bay Community, an intentional community comprising
various organisations and many individuals drawn together by a common vision of creating a
positive future for humanity and the planet.
The main focus of our work is the major project to assist the natural regeneration of the
Caledonian Forest which once covered a large area of the Highlands of Scotland as extensive stands of majestic
Scots pines, interspersed with birch,
rowan, juniper and
aspen trees.
Now reduced to just 1% of its former extent, the forest is still declining because deer and sheep
overgraze the seedling trees, so that as the mature trees die they are not replaced. However, with
protection from overgrazing, the seedlings grow successfully, thereby allowing a new generation of
trees to reach maturity.
Practical work on our project began in 1989 and since then we have planted over half a million
native trees and have protected numerous areas with fenced exclosures so that natural regeneration
of the trees can take place in the absence of overgrazing by the deer. Our long term goal is to restore
the Caledonian Forest to an area of 600 square miles in the north-central Highlands, and to reintroduce
the missing species of wildlife, such as the
beaver, wild boar,
brown bear, moose, lynx and wolf which formerly lived in the forest.
Our work also has an international dimension: we have been publishing the
Trees for Life calendars and diaries since 1988, and our
Restoring the Earth project promotes the restoration of
the world's degraded ecosystems as the most important task facing humanity in the coming decades.
Trees for Life staff
Clockwise from top right: Pirouel Dickson, Neil Armstrong, Adam Powell,
Anneke Klop, Janet Barcis, Ingrid Mahl, Elaine Dempsey, Jill Hodge, Allan
Common, Alan Watson Featherstone, Mick Drury. Kerrigan Bell not in photo.
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- Alan Watson Featherstone Executive Director
- Adam Powell Ground Flora Projects Co-ordinator
- Anneke Klop Admin. Assistant
- Dan Puplett Project Worker (Aspen Project & work Weeks)
- Elaine Dempsey Office Manager
- Janet Barcis Accounts/Admin
- Jill Hodge Tree Nursery Manager
- Kate Smith Personal Assistant to Executive Director
- Kerrigan Bell Marketing and Development Manager
- Mick Drury Field Projects Manager
- Neil Armstrong Field Base Warden
- Pirouel Dickson Work Week Coordinator
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