On the 18th of November 2023 a long-term woodland creation project was initiated on private property in the Pitlochry area. This date was chosen as it coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Community Woodlands Association. Even though it was a very wet day the event was very well attended.

Tradecoaters Field, designated as a botanically safe ex-situ conservation site, has around 4.5 acres of available open space into which approximately 54 trees were planted. Many of these trees are botanical accessions from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, International Conifer Conservation Programme. These vulnerable trees are either genetic individuals grown on from seed that were collected from their natural range and grown on at RBGE nursery or are clones of rare genetic material.

The species and varieties that were planted included:

24 x Juniperus communis (Juniper) including J. communis var. kelleyi and J. communis var. saxatilis

2 x Sequoia sempervirens (Coastal/California Redwood) 

5 Picea breweriana (Brewer spruce)

8 x Podocarpus salignus (Willow-leaved Podocarp)

And perhaps 15 locally sourced Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak) / Q. petraea (Sessile Oak) which we grown from locally sourced acorns.

The vision for the future is to diversify the mixed species that are present with futher plantings to include: Yew, Aspen, Alder, Birch, Rowan, Willow and some other unusual trees. This with a view to creating a somewhat naturalistic, wild, multi age woodland over the next 30 years.