Scottish Trees - A Limited Documentary Series

Summary Description:

Scotland and its people share a profound and enduring connection with their trees and forests, reflected in folklore, history, architecture, and innovation. For thousands of years, trees have played a vital role in shaping Scotland’s industries, creativity, and way of life. However, in more recent times, this relationship has weakened, with a disconnect forming between the growth of trees in the landscape and their use as a versatile material. While forests are celebrated as havens for wildlife and biodiversity, their value as a managed and sustainable resource is often overlooked. The Scottish Trees series seeks to bridge this gap, offering a renewed appreciation for trees and their multifaceted importance both in nature and as materials for countless uses.

The idea of the Scottish Trees series was born when James Galbraith [a documentary film maker] and Tom Addy [a furniture maker] were working on the Ash Rise documentary film, commissioned by the Scottish Furniture Makers Association in collaboration with Scottish Forestry and ASHS.

Continuing their collaboration with this new project, the film makers aim to educate and enlighten, without the viewer feeling lectured. The series will include experts in their own field, each contributing to the narrative of each episode, collectively weaving an accessible and entertaining view on the importance of forestry and woodland in Scotland - the history, the present and the future.

The Scottish Forestry Trust is supporting the first year of preproduction in which the creators will explore the narratives and themes, identify the key characters, locations and develop storyboards and screenplay for each episode in collaboration with Scottish Forestry. The eventual aim of the project is distribution via an established TV channel or online streaming equivalent.