Borders Forest Trust was formed to restore native woodlands and other natural habitats in the south of Scotland. Our projects work in partnership with local people, communities and organisations to connect people with woodlands, helping to rekindle kindle a woodland culture in the south of Scotland. We are also involved in the sustainable use of hardwood timber. The Project pages provide full details of all our work.
This interactive map lets you discover our projects, sites, woodlands and significant trees in the Borders. Click the On/Off switches to bring up the locations of different projects, and then click on the colour dots to find out more.
Corehead/Devil's Beef Tub
Corehead links the Devil's Beef Tub to Hart Fell and the headwaters of the Annan to those of the Tweed. BFT is managing it to maximise its biodiversity potential with the involvement of the local community.
Carrifran Wildwood
This project aims to recreate an extensive tract of mainly forested wilderness with most of the species present in the area before human activities became dominant.
Real Wood Studios
Scotland's leading centre for locally sourced hardwood timber, furniture and woodworks.
Education
BFT delivers innovative educational projects aimed at raising awareness of our woodland heritage and the natural environment.
Dawyck Botanic Garden
Stobo, Peebleshire EH45 9JU
T: 01721 760254 www.rbge.org.uk/dawyck
A key regional garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Dawyck Larch: planted in 1725 by Sir James Naesmyth, one of
the first Larches planted in Scotland.
Grid Ref. NT 169 347
Silver Fir: planted 1680 and introduced from Europe.
Grid Ref. NT 172 350
Douglas Fir: planted 1835. Named after the renowned botanist, David Douglas.
Grid Ref. NT 172 350
Dawyck Beech: A uniquely Scottish pedigree, discovered in 1860. This Beech has a narrow, upright form and tightly closed crown.
Access: B712 to Stobo, 8 miles southwest of Peebles. Seasonal opening and admission charges apply.
Kailzie Gardens
Peebleshire, EH45 9HT
T: 01721 720007 www.kailziegardens.com
Gardens, fishery, restaurant and osprey watch centre.
The Kailzie Larch: planted by Sir James Naesmyth of Posso
in 1725 while visiting the Laird of Kailzie, one of the earliest Larches
still thriving in Scotland.
Grid Ref. NT 283 385
Beech: a large Veteran Beech adjacent to the Kailzie Larch.
Grid Ref. NT 283 385
Rowan: A fine Ancient Rowan, berry-laden in autumn. Girth 1.6m.
Grid Ref. NT 281 386
Apple: A Golden Spire variety of Apple within the walled garden.
Girth just under 1m.
Grid Ref. NT 280 385
Lime: Veteran species. Girth 4.9m.
Grid Ref. NT 282 386
Ancient Ash: along the riverside, only safely accessible when livestock are not present.
Access: B7062 between Peebles and Innerleithen.
Tweedgreen Sycamore
Victoria Park, Peebles
Sycamore: because of its early Spring flush of vibrant
green leaves, this tree was once thought to be a descendent of the famous
Edinburgh Corstorphine Sycamore (an unusual sub-species). DNA technology
has now enabled the Northern Research Station at Roslin to confirm the
tree is not, in fact, genetically related. The tree remains, however,
a beautiful specimen.
Grid Ref. NT 253 403
Access: Victoria Park by Tweed Green at the foot of St. Andrew's Leckie Parish Church steps.
St. Mary's Kirkyard
Selkirkshire
The ruins of St.Mary's Kirk of the Forest are located in what was once the ancient Ettrick Forest. A lone ash tree stands watch over the Grieve family grave plot.
Ash: an ancient specimen standing in a corner of the
Grieve family plot, this tree is likely to be a descendant of the original
forest.
Grid ref. NT 254 237
Access: A fingerpost sign points to a 1/2 mile walk leading up a steep hill off the A708 opposite St. Mary's Loch. Park in roadside layby.
Traquair House
Traquair, Innerleithen EH44 6PW
T: 01896 830323 www.traquair.co.uk
Scotland's oldest continuously occupied house that includes beautiful landscaped gardens.
Traquair Yews: four ancient, twisted yews found behind the
Traquair maze. With a rich lore attached, they are considered to be remnants
of the original Ettrick Forest.
Grid ref. NT 332 335
Douglas Fir: a multi-stemmed specimen tree. Girth 6.93m.
Grid ref. NT 332 355
Access: A72 in Innerleithen, follow signs to Traquair House. Seasonal opening and admission charges apply.
Glenkinnon Community Woodland
Clovenfords
The Glenkinnon Oak: believed to be over 300 years old with a
widely branching crown that suggests it once grew in open ground.
Grid ref. NT 437 349
Access: The oak stands on the steep bank above the Yair Campsite car park. West along A707, turn left over Ashiestiel Bridge. The car park is approx 100m on left.
Bowhill Country Estate
Bowhill, Selkirk TD7 5ET
T: 01750 22204 www.bowhill.org
Once part of the ancient Ettrick Forest and one of the royal hunting forests of the Kings of Scotland. A Bowhill Tree Trail leaflet is available from the visitor centre, depicting 16 species of tree around the grounds of the house.
Douglas Fir: brought to the UK in the 1820s by botanist,
David Douglas, whose brother, John, was Master of Works at Drumlanrig Estate.
Girth 4.85m. Bowhill Tree Trail location 13.
Grid ref. NT 425 277
The Lightning Tree: a Sitka Spruce scarred by a lightning
strike. The scar is a visible crack down the length of the long trunk. Not
on the Bowhill Tree Trail. Approx 50m from the car park beside the road.
Girth 5.10m.
Grid ref. NT 4241 2775
Three Beeches: planted between 1708 and 1726 by Anne Scott,
first Duchess of Buccleuch. Bowhill Tree Trail location 7.
Grid ref. NT 429 275
Dunkeld Larches: hyridised trees of Japanese and European
Larches first discovered in Dunkeld, Perthshire. Bowhill Tree Trail location 12.
Grid ref. NT 424 273
Access: From Selkirk follow A708 up the Ettrick Valley and follow signs to Bowhill House.
Scott Park, Gala Policies
Galashiels
Scott Park Oak: Sited opposite the tennis courts in Scott Park,
this oak is notable for its large girth and wide branching crown. In the adjacent
Gala Policies, there are several other ancient oaks, together with a range of
specimen foreign tree species including Giant Redwoods, Norway Maple, a Monkey
Puzzle and Weeping Ash. The old Oaks are thought to be remnants of the ancient
Ettrick Forest that once covered the area. The trees in Scott Park and the Gala
Policies were once part of the grounds of the New Gala House, built in the
1870s, but most of these trees will be much older.
Grid ref. NT 489 358
Access: Scott Park and Gala Policies are situated at the south west side of Galashiels, next to the High School and swimming pool. The car park is located near the swimming pool in Livingstone Place.
The Haining Estate
Selkirk TD7 5LR
An estate with a Palladian mansion house that includes a terrace which overlooks the Haining Loch.
Horse Chestnuts: Two impressive specimens adjacent to
the path beside the loch. Girths over 5m.
Grid ref. NT 469 275
The Walking Tree - Beech: located about 100m from the Horse
Chestnut trees near the fence-line, the Beech has a split in its trunk
resembling a pair of legs large enough to walk under.
Grid ref. NT 469 275
The Haining Oaks: two magnificent pedunculate Oaks found
to the left of the entrance drive below Peel Hill. Another wide-girthed
Horse Chestnut stands beside the drive close-by.
Grid ref. NT 469 284
Access: park in the main Museum car park in Selkirk. Walk downhill on the main road A708 and through a double gate-posted drive on the left hand side.
The Covin Tree
Bemersyde Gardens, Melrose TD6 9DP
Sweet Chestnut: planted in 12th century by Petrus de
Haga, founder of the Haig Family. There are many other interesting and
rare trees, gifted by Royal Botanic Garden, including a magnificent
avenue of Beech trees planted in the 1920s by Field Marshall Haig.
Grid ref. NT 593 334
Access: On the B6356 St Boswells to Earlston Road, follow signs for the Wallace Statue and Scotts View. Turn left just before the Bemersyde houses. Gardens open all year with seasonal opening times. Charges apply.
Dryburgh Abbey
St. Boswells TD6 0RQ
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Yew: believed to have been planted by monks in 1136,
predating the abbey and making it nearly 900 years old. Yew trees can
live for thousands of years and this Yew may well be the oldest tree
in the Borders. Dryburgh Abbey has a fine collection of old trees,
including several cedars that were planted in 1796.
Grid ref. NT 592 316
Access: Dryburgh Abbey is an Historic Scotland Site. Open all year but with seasonal opening times. Admission charges apply.
The Sitka Spruces of Elm Tree Wood
Wooplaw, Galashiels
Sitka Spruce: thought to be 150 years old, these spruces
are the tallest trees on the horizon from Galashiels. The Sitka Spruce,
introduced to Britain from North Western America by David Douglas in 1831,
is a commercially important timber species.
Grid ref. NT 503 420
Access: Elm Tree Wood is adjacent to the Wooplaw Community Woodland, north of Galashiels between the A7 and the A68. Elm Tree Wood is privately owned woodland. Please stick to path and keep all dogs on leads to avoid damage to saplings.
St. Boswells Apple
St. Boswells
Crab Apple: aged 150 years, this is the largest and oldest
Crab Apple tree in Scotland and has a distinctive crown. Formerly part of a
hedgerow, it now grows inside the field boundary.
Grid ref. NT 605 311
Access: located in a farm field just off St. Cuthbert's Way public footpath. Approximately 300m out of St. Boswells on the B6404, take the Benrig Cemetery road and turn left onto the signed public footpath. Please do not enter the field when livestock is present.
Queen Mary's Pear
Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre, Queen Street, Jedburgh TD8 6EN
Pear: the original pear tree, planted by Mary, Queen
of Scots, was said to have lived for nearly 400 years before being
blown down in a gale in the early 1900s. The pear tree that now
grows in the same spot is known as 'Our Queen Mary's Pear' and was
given, in 1934, as a replacement by Queen Mary, grandmother of
the present Queen, Elizabeth II.
Grid ref. NT 653 207
Access: located in the public gardens of Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre, Queen Street, Jedburgh. Gardens open all year until dark.
The Capon Tree
Hundalee, Jedburgh
Sessile Oak: located beside the Jedwater, one of the last
remaining Oak trees of the Jed Forest. The vast trunk, with a 10m girth,
has split in two. The name originates from the order of Capuchin monks
who, it is said, used the tree as shelter on their way to Jedburgh Abbey.
It is also a former meeting place of the Border Clans and was once known
as 'the Hanging Tree'.
Grid ref. NT 650 188
Access: A68 south of Jedburgh. The tree can be seen on the right, 1.5 km along the path, just after the white bridge beside the river.
King O' The Wood
Hundalee, Jedburgh
Sessile Oak: estimated to be over 200 years old, King o' the
Wood stands straight and tall at the top of its small but steep valley.
Grid ref. NT 652 186
Access: located in the woodland on the opposite side of the A68 from the Capon Tree (15). Enter the field over the style and cross the field to a track on the other side. The famous King o’ the Wood is a short walk up to the top of the track.
Jedburgh Hornbeam
Jedburgh
Hornbeam: this tree grows on the riverbank through the stone
wall revetment. Girth 4.3m.
Grid ref. NT 652 207
Access: from the A68 opposite Jedburgh’s Canongate, follow the pedestrian path down to the River Teviot bearing left under the old bridge approximately 100m along path.
Hassendean Oak
Hassendean
Sessile Oak: an ancient pollarded tree in lovely condition.
It is thought to between 250 and 300 years old. Its trunk and branches are
rich in moss and lichen. Girth 6.9m.
Grid ref. NT 555 183
Access: located on the northern bank of the River Teviot between the Hassendean to Denholm road and the Borders Abbeys Way footpath. Veteran Ash trees can also be seen along the same riverside.
Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre
Ancrum TD8 6UQ
T. 01835 830306 www.scotborders.gov.uk/harestanes
The Three Beeches: a line of fine Veteran Beeches to be
found on the Harestanes Woodland Walk, located adjacent to the road.
Grid ref. NT 642 62 477
The Monteviot Beech: a mighty specimen located adjacent
to the St. Cuthbert's Way heading south towards the River Cauld. Girth over 7m.
Grid ref. NT651 02 460
Spanish or Hedgehog Fir: a species with limited distribution
in Southern Spain though a few relict forests are now under protection. It
is unusual to find this tree in the UK making this a "notable" species for
Heritage Tree purposes.
Grid Ref: NT 640 62 456
Access: A68 south, take the B6400 turn-off signposted to Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre.
Springwood Park Oak
Kelso www.buas.org
Oak: a fine Oak tree in good condition thought to be at
least 300 years old with an open crown and thick trunk, held by gnarled roots.
Grid ref. NT 725 335
Access: At the Borders Union Agricultural Show Ground in Springwood Park on the south side of Kelso alongside the A699.
The Polwarth Thorns
Site of the old Polwarth Village
Hawthorn: Polwarth Village was abandoned many years ago
and little evidence remains of its existence. However, two thorn trees,
immortalised by the poet Allan Ramsey (1686-1758) in his poem 'Polwarth,
On The Green', still occupy the original site of the village green,
enclosed within iron railings. "At Polwarth on the Green, if you’ll
meet me in the morn, where lads and lasses do convene, to dance around
the thorn."
Grid ref. NT 743 502
Access: On the A6105 road to Polwarth from Gordon.
The Hirsel Country Park
Coldstream www.hirselcountrypark.co.uk
Hirsel Tulip Tree: planted circa 1740, making it perhaps
the oldest Tulip tree standing. Ancient tree with hollow trunk. Girth 7.8m.
This tree is located in the walled garden, access to which is by arrangement
only. Please telephone 07982 203576.
Grid ref. NT 829 405
The Flodden Tree - Hirsel Sycamore: planted to commemorate
those who died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The huge trunk supports a
set of equally large branches. Located on one of the public walks through the
park, along the east wall of the walled garden.
Grid Ref: NT 829 404
Access: Signposted on the western outskirts of Coldstream off the A697. Open throughout the year during daylight hours. Parking charges apply.
Leadburn
Leadburn Wood extends over 44.14 hectares (109 acres) and is located approximately 20 km South of Edinburgh city centre and some 6 km south of Penicuik at Leadburn. The site lies at the southern limit of the Esk valley, between the Pentland Hills to the north west and the Moorfoot Hills to the south east.
Eshiels
Leadburn Wood extends over 44.14 hectares (109 acres) and is located approximately 20 km South of Edinburgh city centre and some 6 km south of Penicuik at Leadburn. The site lies at the southern limit of the Esk valley, between the Pentland Hills to the north west and the Moorfoot Hills to the south east.
Janets Brae
The site is approximately 21.6 hectares and comprises predominantly deciduous species of a varied age structure. It also lies within a designated area of Great Landscape Value and the Soonhope Burn SSSI a tributary of the River Tweed SSSI forms the western boundary of the woodland.
Venlaw
Venlaw Community Woodland, Peebles, extends over 3.5 hectares and is located northeast of the town centre, on the South side of Venlaw Hill. Venlaw Wood comprises predominantly mature parkland trees, with a mixture of plantation conifers and younger broadleaves.
Jubilee
Jubilee wood is 1 hectare in size and is situated at the south edge of Peebles. The woodland has an interesting ground flora, with a small selection of species which indicate the woodland has ancient origins.
March Wood
This privately owned wood is managed by the local community and Borders Forest Trust through a 25 year agreement. The wood is situated in one of the most stunning locations within the borders, overlooking St Mary's Loch. The woodland has a parkland type feel near the banks of the loch, with denser woodland further up the hill in the eastern half.
Pirn
At the top of the woodland is Pirn Hill which is crowned by the remains of an Iron Age fort. Stunning views of the Tweed and neighbouring valleys can be seen from its summit.
Plora
The woodland consists of a mature stand of conifers planted in the 1950's with areas of native broadleaves. Plora is the largest semi-natural woodland in Tweeddale and one of only five oakwoods 12 hectares or greater to be found throughout the Borders.
Glenkinnon
The Community Woodland consists of a recent clearfelled area (now planted with mixed, native hardwoods - predominantly oak) and conifer plantation that continues up the SSSI valley.
Lindinny
The woodland is a mixture of mature tree species with the majority being conifers. Although the local community is small the wood is well supported with over a thousand visitors in 2005.
Lauder
Scots pine, juniper, rowan and birch woodland on two sites near Lauder.
Wooplaw
The woodlands that make up Wooplaw Community Woodlands occupy an area of 20.3 hectares situated at a height of approximately 250m. There is a mixture of trees, consisting of both mature stands of native broad leaves and conifers, and young plantations - the latter being mostly native broad leaves. www.wooplaw.org.uk
Venlaw
This woodland has a private landowner and is under a 25 year management agreement with Borders Forest Trust to establish native woodland with community participation. The site is approximately 6.3 hectares and predominantly consists of newly planted (since 1997) mixed native broadleaved trees.
Darnick Native
The woodland covers a total area of seven and a half acres and is divided into two woods by one of the local roads, Broomilees Road, which runs through from the village. Opened in 1849, The Border Union Railway, which operated between Galashiels and Hawick, ran past this part of the village.
Heronhill
Heronhill Woods are five small individual woods of differing character and are well used by the people of Hawick, with great views over the town form the highest wood. Pond Wood is one of the best locations in Hawick to watch Dragonflies on a summer's day, whilst Boundary Wood has an impressive display of summer flowers with a few local rarities.
Drygrange
Drygrange Community Woodland is 9.32 hectares. The wood is in the grounds of Grange Hall nursing home the once Baronial Mansion built in the 1800's. The woodland follows the Leader Water on a steep sided bank and is designated as ancient woodland.
Gordon
The woodland covers an area of 210 acres of mainly mixed broadleaves. It includes a large pond, the site of some ancient burial mounds and a disused railway line. It is bounded on the eastern side by the River Eden.
Wooden Anna & Swanna
The Wooden Anna Community Woodland is a partnership project involving several groups including BFT, Kelso Community Woodland Group, Tweed Forum and the local landowners.
Swanna is unique in that it is located on an island in the middle of the River Tweed. The site is prone to flooding and so the wood is being planted with a mixture of water tolerant species such as Alder, Willow, Bird Cherry and Aspen.
Eyemouth
As part of the walk through the wood, an oak avenue has been planted with 129 trees commemorating sailors who died during the 1881 Black Friday fishing disaster. The avenue leads to the top of the wood and some of the best views of the town and the sea beyond.
Ladyurd
Ladyurd Community woodland is a mixed woodland of plantation origin and forms part of the Ladyurd Forest. The area considered a Community Woodland covers an area of approximately 14 hectares and is owned by Forestry Commission Scotland.
Gala Policies
Gala Policies is in the heart of Galashiels. It is a mixed woodland with old oak trees, planted exotic trees such as Douglas Fir and Giant Sequoia, younger woodland trees such as willow, ash and sycamore and some shrubs ] including elder and rhododendron.
Lindean
Lindean and Bailhill Wood is owned by Borders Forest Trust and covers an area of approximately 7.7 Ha. The woodland consists of two distinct sections, Bailhill, a prominent hill and Lindean Burn, which forms a steep gully woodland.
Crown Wood
Crown wood is a 13.1 hectare conifer plantation one mile outside of Bonchester Bridge near Hawick. The wood is a mixture of conifers and birch. There are several clearings within the wood with typical heathland species such as Heather and Bilberry
Crailing Orchard
Crailing orchard is a group of old apple, pear and plums varieties that once belonged to Crailing Hall, near Jedburgh. The long term vision is to establish a working orchard and conserve the old varieties found within the borders.
- Woodland Habitat
- Ancient Trees
- Community Woodlands
- Education
- Real Wood Studios
- Carrifran Wildwood
- Corehead
