Introduction

Trees for life is an award-winning Scottish charity working to restore the Caledonian Forest to 600 square miles of the Highlands west of Inverness.

The distinctive Caledonian Forest community, dominated by Scots pine, is substantially depleted and fragmented. Only 1% of the original forest remains and overgrazing by sheep and deer prevents most natural regeneration.
These remnants need special care and protection; beyond this, the forest needs to be allowed to expand in area to secure this rich ecosystem for the future.

Such restoration work is not a passive process - we have to roll our sleeves up and help Nature do its work. To date we have planted over 650,000 trees, and we have fostered the growth of many thousands more naturally regenerating seedlings.

Working in effective partnerships with organisations such as the RSPB and Forestry Commission Scotland, we invite volunteers to help us deliver our programme of practical work on the ground.

Removing a deer fence

The Caledonian Forest needs you!

Imagine a beautiful wild forest...

The Work Weeks

Every year, people of all ages and backgrounds, from Scotland, the UK and beyond, see in our work weeks the opportunity they have been looking for to help restore the natural environment.

The quotes taken from our volunteers suggest that not only do work weeks help restore the forest, they seem to help restore people, too! We believe that four key elements contribute to the quality of our volunteers' experience.

Helping the planet
The weeks provide participants with the chance to do something positive to help the planet. For many people, this is an empowering experience at a time when so much environmental news is negative.

Contact with nature
Spending a week working amidst the forests, rivers and mountains of the Scottish Highlands often touches people profoundly.

Sharing with others
For a week, we live as a community, working together in the forest and sharing domestic tasks such as cooking the evening meal. We seek to live in a spirit of harmony and cooperation. We begin each day's work together with an attunement - a moment's quiet reflection; also, the group will meet on occasion to have a sharing, where a space is created to share how the week is going.

Living education
Participating in a work week is an educational experience, not only because volunteers learn about ecological restoration but because it is an opportunity to observe nature and learn from the land itself, knowledge that can inform our daily lives.

So what are the weeks like?

A group of volunteers     "Reforesting the earth is possible, given a human touch" Sandra Postel and Lori Heise, Worldwatch Paper 83

"This week was good for body and soul." Michael, Leeds.

Each work week consists of ten volunteers. Volunteers must be aged 18 and over to participate. There's no upper age limit! The work can be physically challenging, sometimes reaching work sites can require long walks over rough terrain so you will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to take part. However, volunteers usually find a pace of work they can cope with. We also run a gentler Nursery Week, located at our field base, for those who feel the regular weeks may be too much for them.

Each week has two leaders, who may be Trees for Life staff members or Work Week volunteers who have been trained to lead weeks themselves.

We provide transport to and from Inverness at the start and end of the week; we also provide accommodation and food for vegetarian or vegan meals. Cooking and other chores are done on a voluntary rota basis. The week starts with a walk to introduce the volunteers to the forest and then on Sunday the work begins. Wednesday is a day off - the group may choose to do something together or this might be a time to spend some time on your own. Most working days run from around 9am to 5pm. In the evening, you'll have time to relax, eat, read, play games, sing, tell stories - whatever you feel moved to do!

"I have been inspired and uplifted and enjoyed it all." Jocasta, Isle of Skye.

Trees for Life Volunteer Website

You can discuss work weeks and read what other volunteers have to say on the independent website, http://www.tflvolunteer.org/.

Keep in touch, share photos, talk to other volunteers if you're thinking of getting involved...