Research and innovation
Funding research and shared learning for Scotland’s native woodlands
Scotland’s woodlands are vital in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, but we still need better evidence, smarter approaches and broader collaboration.
Through our Research & Innovation Grants, we fund research and new ideas that advance woodland recovery and deepen understanding of how native woodlands benefit people, nature and the climate. We are also open to projects that explore Continuous Cover Forestry and other low-impact silvicultural methods.
Grants of up to £10,000 available
These small grants fund original research, practical trials and new ideas. We’re looking for projects that inform better practice, share learning, and deliver long-term value for Scotland’s woodlands.
Next application deadline is 23 August 2026
You’ll need to submit a written application. To help you prepare, you can download the Application criteria and guidelines and an Offline application form in Word to draft your application.
Making a difference since 2016
Since the programme began, we’ve awarded 39 grants, enabling over £1.14m worth of projects across Scotland. These projects have helped expand knowledge, test new approaches and strengthen woodland recovery across Scotland.
Past research topics have included non-timber forest products, heritage, carbon, genetics, restoration, pathogens and threats, awareness raising, biodiversity monitoring, propagation and stewardship best practice.
What we fund
We support projects that generate practical insights, test new approaches and share knowledge across the sector. Projects focused on a single site are welcome if the results can be shared and applied more widely.
We’re particularly interested in projects that:
- support people working in woodlands to solve practical problems or increase capacity
- improve our ability to better steward woodlands in the face of climate change and invasive species
- enhance productivity, biodiversity and resilience
- strengthen collaborative research and enaction on the ground
- build stakeholder consensus on issues
- support positive development of woodland and forestry policy
- improve monitoring and surveying to aid our understanding.
Research & Innovation Grants information
Applying for a Research & Innovation Grant
Who can apply? Any individual or organisation with the skills and capacity to undertake the proposed project. We may ask individuals to identify a ‘host’ organisation to manage the payment of the grant. Partnership applications are encouraged. We welcome applications from:
- Academic researchers
- Charities
- Landowners
- Woodland consultants
- Community organisations
- Private companies (we will want to see demonstrable, replicable benefits for the sector)
- Collaborations across these sectors
How much can I apply for? Grants up to £10,000 are available. Evidence of match funding (including in-kind or volunteer contributions) is encouraged but not essential. There is no upper limit to overall project cost. Start an application
When can I apply? The next application deadline is 23 August 2026. You can submit an application for funding through our online portal. Applications can be submitted at any time. Decisions are communicated within 4 weeks of the deadline date.
What do we fund? We support a wide range of projects which might include academic research, events that promote the value of native woodland, or the trialling of innovative approaches to woodland management and enterprise. Essentially any project which, in the view of the trustees, will benefit woodlands directly or increase understanding and appreciation of their value.
Does the work have to be in Scotland? There is no geographical limit for this activity but there must be clear benefits for the woodlands and forests of Scotland.
Who do I contact for help?
If you have any questions about our Research and Innovation grant, please contact Ailsa Watson.
Latest research and innovation stories
Research and innovation projects
Case-study based resources to inform and educate deer management practitioners
The Common Ground Forum (CGF) is a cross-section of individuals and organisations connected to upland deer management in Scotland, who…
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Assessing 20 years of montane scrub restoration and the impact of reduced grazing on associated alpine flora
Carrifran is a 650ha glen in the Southern Uplands, with an altitudinal range of 160m – 820m, managed by Borders…
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Investigating the effectiveness of ectomycorrhizal fungal inoculation of native Scottish trees in areas targeted for afforestation
Native woodland creation projects frequently experience high levels of sapling mortality across both coniferous and broadleaf species. Progress towards afforestation…
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Transforming forestry and agricultural waste into a vermiculture‑based, peat‑and coir-free substrate for resilient tree nurseries
This project will develop and test peat-free growing media made from Scottish agricultural and forestry by-products processed through vermiculture. The…
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Mountain birch in Scotland: genetics and recovery
In support of a PhD project titled: Mountain birch in Scotland: genetics and recovery. The project has been developed collaboratively…
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Understanding patterns, drivers and management of non-native plants in created broadleaf woodlands
The aim of this University of Glasgow project is to quantify the extent of non-native plant invasion within the WrEN…
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Improving riparian buffer zones to encourage distribution of beavers
Britain’s ambitious tree planting targets intersect with the expanding distribution of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), a key ecosystem engineer…
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Trial establishing native woodland directly from seed in grazed farmland without fencing
This project will trial a novel, low-cost method for establishing native woodland directly from seed in grazed farmland or croft…
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Assessing RTK multispectral surveying to aid removal of INNS
In 2023, the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust (IGHT) undertook a two year project to begin control of 20 hectares…
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Radical pruning to better merge conifers with broadleaves for the benefit of biodiversity
E3 R&D have received funding previously, for a long-term high pruning and monitoring project on a 70 acre site, transforming…
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Developing a Native Strain of Chaga
Rhyze is a workers’ cooperative in Edinburgh who have delivered a previously funded feasibility study into the social, ecological and…
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Trialling Approaches to Establish Native Ground Flora
This grant will enable SCOTLAND: The Big Picture to demonstrate and communicate how to increase the cover of native woodland…
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Common Ground Forum Gathering 2025
Having contributed a grant towards the pre-cursor project to the Common Ground Forum (CGF) in 2022, we awarded a further…
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Riparian Woodland Demonstration Site Visits
Loch Abar Mòr is a nature restoration partnership led by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, working at a regional scale to enable…
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Helping to lay the groundwork for Chaga cultivation in Scotland
Rhyze is a workers’ cooperative in Edinburgh with an impressive track record of testing different models of community food growing…
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Transforming a Sitka plantation and demonstrating the effects on biodiversity outcomes
E3 R&D have been working on a 70 acre site to transform the traditional model of plantation woodland into an…
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Can Native Woodland Regeneration in Scotland Mitigate Climate Change?
Dr. François-Xavier Joly is project leader of this University of Stirling project which is quantifying how native woodland regeneration (NWR)…
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Woodland Plant Introductions in Lowland Woodland
Woodland creation often occurs on former agricultural land and the development of accompanying woodland flora is generally overlooked. The likelihood…
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The Ecology and Genetics of Native Scottish Crab Apple
Native Scottish Crab Apple is a Red data book species and this project, devised and undertaken by Rick Worrell, provided…
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Secondary Woodland Biodiversity Value
While woodland creation and restoration are generally believed to enhance biodiversity, the slow rates of habitat succession and delayed species…
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Improving our Understanding and Management of Phoenix Trees
This project investigated the occurrence and ecological significance of phoenix trees, trees that have blown over and continued to grow…
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Impacts of Native Woodland Creation on Mammals
A grant was awarded to University of Stirling’s Biological and Environmental Sciences Department to research the biodiversity impacts of upland…
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Aspen Orchard Seed Stands
Folowing on from their research into aspen flowering behaviours in 2018, we funded Coille Alba‘s project which sought to establish…
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Aspen Flowering Study
This grant was awarded to Coille Alba for an Aspen Flowering study to explore the factors which affect the reproductive…
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Scotland’s Rainforest Film
The grant supported Plantlife, in partnership with the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest, to commission and produce a website and impactful…
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Showcasing the Social and Economic Benefits Derived from Community Woodlands
Community Woodlands Association were keen to showcase the social and economic benefits derived from community woodlands through four case studies…
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Scotland’s Forgotten Woodlands
The project set out to map all Scottish woodland and tree toponyms across the Gàidhealtachd, which, co-ordinated with other evidence,…
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Propagating Mature Elm Survivors
This scoping study by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was conducted to explore the development of a project to find…
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Physical and Chemical Analysis of Oak Tree Rings to Track Tree Growth and Carbon Cycling
University of St Andrews Professor Rob Wilson‘s research proposal asks “With climate scenarios suggesting that the Scottish climate will become…
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Painting Scotland Yellow: Aspen Film and Event
This grant went towards phase 2 of the Painting Scotland Yellow project: to produce a promotional film about aspen to…
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Natural Climate Solutions Awareness Programme
The aim of the Native Woodland Discussion Group and Forest Policy Group’s Natural Climate Solutions awareness programme, was to clarify…
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Montane Scrub Restoration PhD
A grant was awarded to Sarah H. Watts at University of Stirling to support her PhD project researching montane scrub…
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Microsatellite Markers for Shining Guest Ant
The University of York, along with the James Hutton Institute and Forest Research, aimed to develop the first microsatellite markers…
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Extracting DNA from the Air as Tool for Monitoring Birds
The University of West of England and the Woodland Creation & Ecological Network (WrEN) were keen to test the hypothesis…
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Establishing Seed Stands for Wild Apple
The objectives for this partnership between Rick Worrell and Falkland Stewardship Trust, was to collect scion material from wild apple…
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Ecochar Carbon Removal Solution
Ecochar offers a novel biochar-based carbon removal solution with outstanding biodiversity co-benefits: the removal of widespread and highly invasive rhododendron…
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Woodland Management Planning as Co-Custodians
The Kilsture Forest Community Group were keen to develop their role as co-custodians of the forest through a Citizen Science project,…
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Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Short Film
The Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project commissioned this film as part of their work for the ‘Pinewoods – A realistic future’…
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Acoustic monitoring
We funded Carbon Rewild to test the suitability of bioacoustics to carry out simple and accessible biodiversity monitoring surveys that…
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Shetland’s Relict Willows
The Shetland Amenity Trust gathered genetic data on Shetland’s native willow to develop conservation actions required for relict trees. The…
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Ancient Slope Alder Wood Pasture
Borders Forest Trust undertook an integrated study to allow for the sensitive ecological restoration and expansion of a rare surviving…
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Civic Mediation for Sustainable Deer Management
We awarded a grant to Plantlife who convened a multi-stakeholder civic mediation project: Finding the Common Ground on Sustainable Upland…
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Identifying a Control Agent for Dothistroma Needle Blight
The Caledonian Pinewoods in the Highlands of Scotland are unique in the UK; home to some of the UK’s rarest…
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