Developing Scotland’s woodlands skills
Helping people gain access to skills needed to care for our woodlands
Scotland’s woodlands need people as well as trees. To meet our national tree planting targets and care for woodlands long into the future, we need a skilled and diverse workforce. But today, there aren’t enough people with the training and support to do that work, and the sector must grow to meet demand.
The Forestry Skills Programme was created to help close that gap. Launched in December 2024, this two-year initiative supports individuals, communities and small businesses to access training, funding and opportunities across the country. From young foresters and local nurseries to urban planners and community groups, we’re working with trusted partners to grow the skills Scotland needs.
As a charity, we rely on partnerships to make this work possible. With your support, we can ensure Scotland has the skills needed to create, protect and restore our woodlands.
What the Forestry Skills Programme offers
This two-year programme is delivered in partnership with trusted organisations across Scotland. It provides practical training, funding and support across five priority areas, each designed to grow skills where they’re needed most.
NEW: Continuous Cover Forestry Training
A new training programme
We are offering 10 fully funded places on a new year-long training programme. The Continuous Cover Forestry training programme provides hands-on experience in thinning, a vital technique transitioning forests to Continuous Cover Forestry, with tailored mentoring and peer support to equip participants with the skills and confidence to lead Scotland’s woodland transformation.
Small scale nurseries
Strengthening the roots of Scotland’s native tree supply.
Healthy woodlands start in healthy nurseries. This strand supports nano-nurseries with business and technical skills to strengthen supply chains and meet increasing demand. Future Woodlands Scotland is working with partners to support a network of small native tree nurseries, helping address critical supply chain challenges and promote collaboration across the sector.
This unique project has been made possible thanks to support from Sottish Forestry and The Scottish Forestry Trust.
Community woodland groups
Supporting communities to care for woodlands close to home.
Local communities play a vital role in restoring and managing Scotland’s woodlands. We offer support and training for community-led woodland groups to build knowledge, confidence and capacity.
Future foresters
Helping the next generation shape a climate-smart future.
A changing climate is changing forestry. This strand supports young people and early-career professionals to build practical skills in sustainable, resilient forestry.
The Future Foresters Fund, delivered in partnership with Lantra Scotland, is open to those who’ve entered the sector within the last five years. It supports qualifications and hands-on experience that set people up for long-term careers in the field.
Women in forestry
Creating space for more women to enter, grow and lead in forestry.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in Scotland’s forestry sector. We’re working to change that by funding training, building support networks, and breaking down barriers to progression.
The Women in Forestry Practical Training Fund, delivered in partnership with Lantra Scotland, helped women gain the skills and confidence to build meaningful careers in the sector.
Urban professionals
Bringing trees into town planning, education and infrastructure.
Trees in towns and cities face unique challenges — and many decisions that affect them are made by people without formal forestry training. We work with planners, educators, and engineers to help them understand the role of urban trees, including targeted training for schools and council teams.
Stay in touch
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