Scotland’s native woodlands

Our native woodlands are one of the most characteristic elements of the Scottish landscape.

From the rugged Caledonian pinewoods and birchwoods in Highland glens to the remnant ancient broadleaved woods in Borders cleuchs. 

They are home to many species of animals and plants - from wildcats to wood ants and mighty trees to tiny mosses, lichens and fungi.

What are Scotland's native woodlands?

Native tree species are those which arrived naturally in Scotland without direct human assistance as far as we can tell.

Most of our native tree and shrub species colonised Scotland after the last Ice Age (which ended roughly 9,000 years ago), with seeds dispersed by wind, water, and animals. 

Scotland's most common native trees and shrubs include:

• Scots pine
• birch (downy and silver)
• alder
• oak (pedunculate and sessile)
• ash
• hazel
• willow (various species)
• rowan
• aspen
• wych elm
• hawthorn
• holly
• juniper
• elder
• wild cherry

For a full list of species (both native and non-native) please see Annex 1 of the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS).

Scotland’s Native Woodlands - results from the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS)

All Scotland’s forests, woodlands and associated open ground habitats provide some biodiversity value. 

However, suitably managed native, and in particular ancient and semi-natural woodlands, will contribute the most. 

This includes appropriately restored Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS).

Restoration of lowland plantations on ancient woodland sites - PAWS (Forest Research website)

Improving woodland condition is a:

• strategic driver in Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 
• target in Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Scotland's Forestry Strategy, 2019 - 2029

Scottish Planning Policy recognises the high value of ancient woods and semi-natural woodlands for nature conservation.

Action for Scotland's native woods

Action for Scotland's national woods aims to encourage more people, and especially land managers and owners, to think about opportunities to manage and create native woodlands.

Action for Scotland's native woods

Developing native woodland habitat networks

Developing Native Woodland Habitat Networks advises land managers how to locate native woodland expansion in order to help to develop habitat networks and deliver Scottish Forestry Strategy targets. 

Developing native woodland habitat networks

Three methods are set out to help choose areas for native woodland expansion:

• habitat network plans or strategies agreed by local stakeholders
• maps indicating potential native woodland network areas
• guidance for building native woodland networks in other areas

You can use the data to help develop proposals for grant support under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

1. preparing Forest Plans - support is available for this within Woodland Improvement Grants 
2. claims for support for one or more types of action

Sustainable management of forests and Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS)

The sustainable management of forests supports the management of existing areas of native woodland and the restoration of native woodland from Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS).

Sustainable Management of Forests Grant

PAWS provides full information on the composition and structure of ancient native woods (and nearly-native woods), and also for other areas of ancient woods that were identified in the Scottish Ancient Woodland Inventory (SAWI).

Native woodland management plans using NWSS

Areas of existing native woodland identified on NWSS can/should be highlighted in Forest Plans.

Forest planning

For support under Sustainable Management of Forests, as well as the Forest Plan covering the wood there also needs to be:

• a map of areas of native woodland and an explanation of the work to be done
• a brief summary describing the ecological condition of the wood in relation to key attributes, and a summary of how the proposals will help to maintain or improve their condition. 
  
  The current list of key attributes is: 
   
  • stand structure
  • regeneration
  • herbivore impacts
  • species composition
  • threats and damage (includes invasive non-native shrub/field layer species) 

Native and ancient woods are recognised in Scottish Planning Policy for their importance as part of our natural and cultural heritage.

Planning authorities are public bodies who are subject to the biodiversity duty in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. This requires all public bodies to further biodiversity where it is relevant to their functions.

Development planning and management take account of native woodlands as priority habitats under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

Data from the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland can help planning authorities to prepare development plans that are based on a sound and consistent basis of knowledge of native woods.