Help us recover Scotland’s most precious ancient woodlands
Ghost woodlands are relicts of old, or ancient woodlands, where less than 20% of the canopy cover remains.
Although these woods appear to be dying, they have a high ecological and conservation value. Help us breathe new life into these precious woodlands today.
Ghost woodlands were once Scotland’s most precious ancient woodlands, thriving across spectacular landscapes and gloriously rich in wildlife. Neglected for centuries, only shadowy remnants remain, barely clinging on.
Despite many efforts taking place to expand Scotland’s forests, ghost woodlands have little protection or funding in place. Current grant schemes are simply too slow, complicated or narrowly focused to help them.
Fading away, these ghost woodlands will soon be gone forever. It’s almost too late, but there is still time to save them.
Future Woodlands Scotland has pioneered the restoration of ghost woodlands with landowners and communities over the past three years. Our proven and tested model has given seven ghost woodlands the chance to live again. Spanning an incredible 730 hectares, woodlands once feared lost are now brimming with new growth.
Our Ghost Woodlands Programme offers farmers, crofters and land managers grants to help these woodlands live again.
To learn more, read our FAQs below and then email our Future Woodlands Manager to get started.
Ghost woodlands projects
Frequently asked questions on ghost woodlands
What are ghost woodlands?
Ghost woodlands are relicts of old, or ancient woodlands, where less than 20% of the canopy cover remains. Although these woods are ‘dying on their feet’, they have a high ecological and conservation value.
A ghost woodland will usually have less than 400 surviving trees per hectare, on a site where there was previously woodland 25 or more years ago. It will have the capacity to be restored to a woodland habitat, usually via natural regeneration.
Why are ghost woodlands important?
These woodlands are vital for biodiversity, providing habitat for wildlife and contributing to the health of the ecosystem. They also hold cultural and historical significance.
How do you know if your land has ghost woodlands?
To determine if your land has ghost woodlands, you can:
- Check the Ancient Woodland Inventory. If your site isn’t listed, it may still qualify if there’s other evidence of its ancient status. You can explore this using the Ancient Woodland Inventory layer on Scotland’s Environment Map
- Look for key characteristics: Ghost woodlands typically have less than 20% tree canopy cover, have been in this condition for at least 25 years, show signs of tree seedling growth, and exhibit evidence of heavy grazing by deer and/or livestock.
To qualify for funding, your site should show signs of tree seedling growth
How do I apply for support?
To begin the process, please email our Future Woodlands Manager, who will arrange a time to discuss further.
What type of support is available?
We offer the following financial incentives for sites larger than three hectares:
- Full cost of developing a Forestry Grant Scheme application.
- Top-up of Forestry Grant Scheme funding towards actual costs, particularly for deer management.
- Full cost of developing a Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) application, including registration and validation.
Who is eligible for the ghost woodlands programme?
Farmers, crofters and land managers with sites larger than three hectares may be eligible for support under this programme.
What impact has the Future Woodlands programme had so far?
Our programme is successfully restoring seven ghost woodlands, covering 730 hectares, and is revitalising ecosystems once thought lost.
Where can I find more information?
For more details, feel free to email us.
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