Skip to main content

The Integrating Trees Network

The award winning Integrating Trees Network (ITN) is a farmer-led initiative that aims to encourage more farmers and crofters to plant trees.

Published: 25 Feb 2025

Topic: Planting trees

What does the network do?

More and more farmers in Scottish agriculture are realising the benefits that trees can bring to their farming businesses.

The Network helps raise awareness of the multiple benefits that planting trees can have on your land and business, be it:

  • providing shelter and shade for livestock
  • improving productivity
  • diversifying income streams
  • creating habitat for wildlife
  • reducing your carbon footprint

Network farmers and crofters host events across Scotland. This provides an informative and supportive network for other farmers and crofters who are considering planting trees.

People come together, online and in person, to share:

  • practical knowledge
  • experiences and advice about the processes
  • the practicalities of accessing funding and any challenges
  • common objectives and outcomes of planting trees

The Integrating Trees Network is supported by Scottish Forestry and the Scottish Government.

Our events

We list all our events on our main events page.

You can sign up for all of our upcoming events for free at the Ticket Tailor website.

Important

Our Privacy Notice tells you what Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry do with any of your information we collect through the Integrating Trees Network.

Event video presentations

Shelterbelts and shelter woodlands - practical examples and benefits

Steven Elton, Scottish Forestry, introduces shelterbelts. What benefits can they provide and what should you think about when planning a shelterbelt in order to meet your objectives?
Andrew Hall talks about his family croft (Burravoe, Shetland) and how finding the right tree species was key to the many benefits that have helped reshape croft life.

Andrew Barbour

Andrew Barbour discusses his experience of tree planting at Mains of Fincastle, Pitlochry. How has Andrew designed a woodland to best support his livestock? Andrew compares shelterbelts to shelter woods, and explains the benefits and drawbacks he has experienced.

Tree management and making best use of your timber resource

Phil Knott introduces us to the Wildlife Croft, Skye. With careful woodland management, Phil has been able to produce a range of products - including woodfuel, woodchip, basketry willow and more. All while supporting rich biodiversity across the croft.
Ellinor Dobie of Abbey Timber (Abbey St Bathans) talks about how she manages over 270 ha of mixed woodland, alongside her father, to generate timber for their on-site sawmill.

Mike Strachan

Mike Strachan, Scottish Forestry, discusses the importance of felling permissions and the availability of harvesting and processing grants.

Woodland creation application around the kitchen table with Andrew Adamson, Netherurd Home Farm

Andrew Adamson introduces us to Netherurd Home Farm, West Linton.

Andrew explains how woodlands support his farm business and the steps he took to help fund his new woodland through the Forestry Grant Scheme, including:

  • producing maps
  • an operational plan
  • an issues log
Planting trees
The landscape at Knockbain farm.

Woodland creation and management to maximise biodiversity

A presentation by Kenny Kortland, our Environment Policy Advisor. Learn about the positive impacts that trees can have on your farm business.
Woodland creation and management to maximise biodiversity

Any questions?

Please do get in touch with our team if you:

  • have any questions about the network
  • would like to share ideas about the type of events you'd like us to focus on
  • want to know how to get involved

Was this page helpful?

Feedback buttons

Rate your experience

Your feedback helps us to improve this website. Do not give any personal information because we cannot reply to you directly.

Your feedback helps us to improve this website. Do not give any personal information because we cannot reply to you directly.

Rate your experience

Your feedback helps us to improve this website. Do not give any personal information because we cannot reply to you directly.