The Scottish Forestry Trust was established in 1983 by a gift of share capital, and our role is to provide funds by way of grants, to support research, education and training in forestry throughout the UK.  

Since our establishment, we have provided nearly £3.5m to fund nearly 300 projects ranging from supporting post graduate industry applied research, social and environmental forestry, policy formulation and broader public education and awareness. The Trust is a charity registered in Scotland (Scottish Charity Number SCO08465).

Our charity deeds give us the ability to support projects throughout the whole of the UK provided they can demonstrate a direct benefit to improving knowledge and practise in UK forestry and woodland management; the woodland ecosystem and the processes and products derived from UK woodlands. Our latest Development Strategy: Futureproofing Forestry: Priorities for 2022-2031 can be found here.

Our income is provided in two main ways. Firstly we receive investment income from our Endowment. These funds are managed on our behalf by Brewin Dolphin. We have an active responsible investment policy and our funds are not invested in in any company that promotes pornography or where the principal business is in tobacco or weapons manufacturing or in companies where there has been evidence of controversies relating to deforestation or permanent removal of natural forests. As of April 2022 the Trustees are also satisfied that there are no investments in companies that actively operate in or have a connection to Russia. Secondly we also work with partners who entrust us with managing their funds to support forestry research education and training on their behalf - this includes Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales, Tilhill Forestry, QBE Insurance and the Hylobius Industry Research Partnership. The Scottish Forestry Trust is open to work with other partners and aims to increase funds available via this route over the next 10 years.