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, Dan Puplett, Jill Hodge, Allan Common, Alan Watson Featherstone, Mick Drury. Kerrigan Bell not in photo.  Organisation chart. Click for a larger version. |
- Adam Powell Ground Flora Projects Co-ordinator
- Alan Watson Featherstone Executive Director
- Allan Common Dundreggan Site Manager
- Dan Puplett Project Worker (Aspen Project & work Weeks)
- Elaine Dempsey Office Manager
- Geoff Hewitt Business Manager
- Janet Barcis Accounts/Admin
- Jill Hodge Tree Nursery Manager
- Kate Smith Personal Assistant to Executive Director
- Kerrigan Bell Marketing and Development Manager
- Malcolm Cairney Plodda Nursery Assistant
- Mick Drury Field Projects Manager
- Neil Armstrong Field Base Warden
- Colin Hall Work Week Coordinator
- Rosie Black Work Week Co-ordinator
- Ruth May Admin. Assistant
- Steve Morris Dundreggan Project Manager
Trees for Life Directors
Kenny Taylor, Bill Ritchie, Geoff Sharpe, Diane Gilbert, Judith Bone, Alan Watson Featherstone, and Sandy Payne.
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