REWILD THE HIGHLANDS
Trees for Life is a conservation charity dedicated to rewilding the Scottish Highlands. They have planted nearly two million trees, and offer conservation weeks where volunteers plant and grow trees, monitor wildlife and support other vital work which helps restore the Caledonian Forest.
Stephen Couling is a volunteer week leader for Trees for Life: “I love the work we do, which I think is crucially important in trying to repair some of the damage done to the environment by centuries of poor land management; I love the people with whom I do this work – my Trees for Life colleagues and the amazing volunteers who come from all walks of life and many different countries; I love the places in which we do this work: the Highlands of Scotland.”
“Our volunteers say that they enjoy doing something to help nature recover; they enjoy the community spirit that comes from living and working with like-minded people for a week; they love being outside working in all winds and weathers; they love meeting new people; and they love being so isolated and wild – away from phones and the internet – and living completely off-grid for a week. But above all they love ending the week feeling that they've made a difference.”
“We're drowning in stories of natural disasters – fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, melting ice caps, pollution, plastics, disappearing animals and insects. These conservation weeks are small but important moments of hope.”