Future Trees Trust
@futuretreestrust.bsky.social
The only UK charity dedicated to improving broadleaved trees and promoting resilient, healthy and productive forests and wood 🌳 Through decades of research and forestry experience, our work is centred on developing more productive trees.
How do we choose tolerant ash trees for controlled breeding? 🌳 With @rbgkew.bsky.social we’re using DNA analysis to confirm each tree’s reproductive role. Leaf samples are now catalogued and being freeze-dried ahead of extraction. Funded by Defra. #LivingAshProject
⚠️ Sweet chestnut blight outbreak 🔴 New Demarcated Area established in Devon following detection of airborne spores. 🔴 Movement restrictions placed on susceptible sweet chestnut material to help contain the disease 🔴 Public urged to report suspected findings via TreeAlert 👉 GOV.UK
Staff from Silviculture Research International are assessing roots from Future Trees Trust’s Supersizing Broadleaves trials, comparing cell grown and bare root seedlings. The work at the University of Cumbria helps improve how young broadleaves establish in the field.
At Future Trees Trust we’ve added 50 new wild cherry trees to our clonal seed orchard, filling the last gaps from our planting five years ago. We’re trialling cactus tree guards to help deter deer responsible for bark stripping. We’ll be tracking how well they work over the next few seasons.
Winter scion collection underway. Our Researcher James Macintyre joins Ford Treescapes as they climb sessile oak plus trees for our @forestrycommission.bsky.social 🌱 Seed Sourcing Grant project. The grafts will strengthen orchards at Whitfield Estate and Craven Field. #ukforestry
It’s Red Squirrel Appreciation Day We stand with partners across the UK and Ireland working to protect our native squirrels Today’s highlights: @uksquirrelaccord.bsky.social webinar on how detection dogs support red squirrel recovery SSRS announce 250,000 + squirrel sightings.
News & events to celebrate #RedSquirrelAppreciationDay 2026 😊🐿️🥰 Join our #webinar at 12:00 or Pow Hill Country Park stand, #CountyDurham, at 10:00. Celebrate #Scotland reaching 250,000 #squirrel records & record sightings for All #Ireland Survey. Find out more & subscribe: mailchi.mp/0f3a5cab99a9...
Great opps through @uksquirrelaccord.bsky.social 1️⃣ Red Squirrel Entry Level Officer: 10month traineeship. D-line 25 Jan. 🐿️ www.lancswt.org.uk/jobs/entry-l... 2️⃣ Green Skills Symposium: CPD event (29 Jan) on human wildlife coexistence www.york.ac.uk/business/cpd...
Entry Level Officer-Red Squirrel Recovery Network | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and North Merseyside
Our Entry Level Officer role is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and motivated individual, looking to start a career in the protection, development and support of wildlife, people and the outd...
lancswt.org.uk
Great to be involved in this session at #BritainsForestFuture - a really good panel discussion with the CFP speakers and Jo Clark from @futuretreestrust.bsky.social on the future of ash and genomic approaches to resilient trees more broadly.
Centre for Forest Protection@forest-protection.bsky.social · 9mo ago1️⃣ Dr Daniel Wood (@danielwood1992.bsky.social), @forest-protection.bsky.social Project Lead, and Future Leader Fellow at @rbgkew.bsky.social gave a talk on his research on genomic approaches to #AshDieback. 🔗 See more www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
The future of UK forests is rooted in research. 🌳 We’re moving forward with core species work, SSBL, and our National Centre at Buscot & Coleshill Estate. Join us as we bridge the gap between field trials and climate resilience. 🏗️🌲
🌳 Big news for #NationalTreeWeek! Future Trees Trust has secured TPIF funding for Supersizing Broadleaves 2—research into root architecture & mycorrhizal associations to boost broadleaf survival. Learn more: futuretrees.org/news-and-ins...
Future Trees Trust Awarded TPIF Funding to Advance Broadleaf Establishment Research - Future Trees Trust
Exploring Root Architecture and Mycorrhizal Networks to Improve Broadleaf Tree Survival and Growth in England
futuretrees.org
New Forestry England Forest Resilience Strategy sets out how UK forests will adapt to climate change, pests & biodiversity loss. Watch Dr Eleanor Tew explain the plan: youtu.be/NNMi4UDlrXY?... #ForestResilience #UKForestry
Forests for the Future
YouTube video by Forestry England
youtu.be
🌿 Continued Hope for Ash Trees 🌿 Future Trees Trust researcher James Macintyre stands beside a resistant ash tree in the RAP trial. Planted in 2003, the trial includes ash provenances from across Europe. Resistant trees have been grafted and planted for future breeding.
Forestry Facts & Figures 2025: UK woodland = 13.5% of land, yet we still import £9.2bn of wood. Future Trees Trust is tackling this by breeding better broadleaves for timber: stronger, sustainable, home-grown hardwoods. www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications...
Forestry Facts and Figures 2025 - Forest Research
Forestry Facts and Figures 2025 is a booklet summarising statistics on woodland and forestry. It covers areas such as woodland size, timber products, economics, and environmental factors. The complete...
forestresearch.gov.uk
🌿 We’re excited to welcome Louise Gathercole to our trustee team at Future Trees Trust. With expertise in plant pathology, oak genomics & science communication, Louise brings valuable insight to our mission. #TreeResearch #SustainableForestry #TrusteeUpdate
We’re thrilled to announce a major funding boost from the Wolfson Foundation towards our National Centre—an exciting step forward in creating a space for environmental education, sustainable forestry, and community engagement. Read more: www.futuretrees.org/news-and-ins...
Major Funding Boost from the Wolfson Foundation for Our National Centre - Future Trees Trust
futuretrees.org
New challenges during fieldwork at the Scottish ash archive this week: checking trees and removing rootstock shoots to prevent unwanted traits. After a dry spring, rain has arrived—along with slugs stripping leaves and damaging grafts.
Last month’s heatwave pushed even our older ash archive trees to the brink. With drought persisting, contractors delivered 20,000L of water weekly to keep them going. A quiet homage to those managing trees through it all.
📢 PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 🌳 Can more diverse, complex forests better withstand drought? 🔬 Our scientists are using remote sensing, tree rings & silviculture to explore how structural diversity boosts resilience in UK woodlands. 🔗 Read more: www.forestprotection.uk/project/cfp2...
Thrilled to be involved in this research project 👇🏿
Centre for Forest Protection@forest-protection.bsky.social · last yr.📢 PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 🌳 How can we ensure UK forests thrive in a changing climate? 🔬 Our scientists are using genomics, remote sensing & climate models to develop smarter seed sourcing strategies for resilient woodlands. Read more: forestprotection.uk/project/cfp2...
📢 New paper from the Living Ash Project: Vegetative propagation of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) shows high success from 1–3 yr old material (91% rooting), but not from older trees. Peat-free media performed well; mycorrhizal inoculation had no benefit. 🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s110...
Just back from the 8th @iufro.bsky.social workshop on resistance and breeding in forest trees. Highlights: 20% growth gain in Doug fir from seed orchard stock, Armillaria resistance screening, and a powerful First Nation canoe carving demo. Genetic improvement matters. #TreeImprovement #IUFRO2025
🌱 What could a National Centre for Broadleaved Tree Improvement mean for UK forestry? Future Trees Trust and the National Trust are exploring the potential to develop a dedicated Centre at a Grade I Listed Granary. www.futuretrees.org/news-and-ins...
Join our team - we're hiring: 💻 Digital Practice Lead 🎨 Senior Designer 🐛 Scientist – Entomology 🛠️ Workshop Technician 📅 Deadlines: 8 - 15 June 📍 Various UK locations 👉 Find out more and apply now: forestresearch.gov.uk/about-us/car... #ForestResearchJobs #JoinOurTeam
Our Annual Supporters’ Day last week focused on the future of ash—thank you to all who joined us and continue to support our work.
Spring hit hard: heat, drought, frost—testing young ash trees & our research. How are you adapting to climate stress in the field?
New article on ash analysis in @genetics-gsa.bsky.social -We're using advanced genetic sequencing to find genes that help ash trees resist dieback, identifying key genes involved in dormancy, flowering & aging, which might explain why some trees are more resistant: academic.oup.com/g3journal/ar...
The @royalforestrysoc.bsky.social E-news shared the QJF Editors top 3 features on pests and diseases which includes our Head of Research, Dr Jo Clark's article on The Living Ash Project 10 Yrs On. With more updates presented at our Supporters Day www.futuretrees.org/resources/?p... #PlantHealthWeek
Research Papers - Future Trees Trust
Here you will find links to further information about Future Trees Trust and our work
futuretrees.org
