Nursery Needs & Future Tree Growing Survey
The Solway Coast & Marine Landscape Connections Project (SCAMP) is an NLHF-funded project that is currently in its development phase, looking ahead to a planned eight year delivery phase (2028-2035). One of the key habitats is ‘Coastal Woodlands’, with ambitions to support existing coastal woodlands and create new ones.
SCAMP is one of two strategic Landscape Connections projects funded by NLHF in Scotland, the other being the Loch Lomond & Trossachs Landscape Connections (LLTLC) initiative. Both include woodland restoration at scale as key activities. These projects share an ambition to support the Scottish tree-growing sector, and this survey asks growers about the challenges and opportunities they foresee in the next ten years to allow support to be tailored for best results.
This short survey, which is being supported by Darroch Nurseries, is being conducted to gather appetite and interest in the potential activity of these programmes from current Scottish growers of native, local provenance trees, and to better understand constraints and limitations in the local – and national – tree nursery network. Depending on appetite and responses received, the SCAMP project could be an opportunity to support activities from seed collection and processing to increasing tree growing capacity and the availability of local provenance and various tree species.
The LLTLC will also use responses to inform the planning of a sustainable supply of plants for restoration projects within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. In short, we are looking at whether current capacity in the sector could support the tree production targets for both Landscape Connections projects (and whether SCAMP can support with increasing production and resourcing in existing small tree nurseries), whether new nurseries are needed, or a combination of both options.
Please help us understand your current setup and interest in future growing capacity, and what you might need to help get there. We will share the results of the survey openly, and one lucky correspondent will win a large "Taste of Gallow" hamper worth £60 from Harris & Co Deli in Castle Douglas. This survey is open until 21/06/2026.
Do you currently grow native trees in Scotland?
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Yes
No, but I would like to
No, and I don't plan to
Nursery Name (this is not required if you'd prefer to remain anonymous)
What seed zone is your nursery located in?
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102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
201
202
203
204
How long have you been growing native trees for?
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Who grows most of your trees?
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Volunteers
Staff
A combination of both
Roughly how many trees does your nursery currently produce each year?
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How many trees would you like to be producing each year?
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What are your ambitions in the next ten years?
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We are happy where we are now and want to keep doing what we do now, at this level
We want to stop within the next ten years/retire
We want to increase the numbers of trees that we grow
Other
What would you need to support any increase in the numbers of trees you would like to grow?
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Bigger seed supply
Additional space/land
More resilient water supply
Managing pests and diseases
More skilled staff
More skilled volunteers
Financial support/grants
Mentoring or advice from another small nursery
More growing infrastructure, e.g. polytunnels, irrigation, or seed trays
Support with transporting tree orders that are larger or going further afield
Marketing
We don't want or need to grow more trees
Other
What has been the most supportive in your nursery journey?
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What are your main challenges?
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Which seed zones to you currently collect seed from to grow on at your nursery? See map below
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102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
201
202
203
204
We don't collect our own seed
We buy in seed
We are given seed as part of a seed collection project (e.g. Woodland Trust/TfL)
Which additional seed zones would you like to collect seed from to grow on at your nursery?
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102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
201
202
203
204
We don't want or need to collect from any additional seed zones
We don't have the capacity to collect additional seed ourselves but we would be interested in growing on tree seed from other seed zones that has been collected by others
What species do you have experience of growing?
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Alder
Aspen
Bird cherry
Birches
Blackthorn
Crab apple
Dog rose
Elder
Elm
Guelder rose
Hazel
Hawthorn
Holly
Juniper
Oak
Rowan
Scots pine
Wild cherry/gean
Willows
Yew
Other
Do you specialise in any particular species (Y/N)? If so, which one(s)?
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Do you grow any non-native trees as well (Y/N)? If so, which ones?
*
How do you grow your trees?
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Bare root
Cell grown
A combination
What seed zones do you currently supply your trees to?
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102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
201
202
203
204
What additional seed zones would you like to supply your trees to?
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102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
201
202
203
204
We don't want or need to supply our trees to any other seed zones
If you selected any additional seed zones, what currently stops you from doing that?
Not enough infrastructure
Not enough land
Not enough staff
Not enough funding to cover costs
Complex shipping logistics
Not enough seed supply
Not sure who our customers would be/how to market ourselves
Other
What species to you regularly sell out of?
What activities does your nursery undertake?
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Seed collection
Seed processing (self)
Seed processing (third party, e.g. Forestart)
Seed purchasing
Tree growing
Contract growing/growing to order
Other, e.g. workshops, advisory, community engagement, volunteering
If you selected Other, what does this include?
What activities would you like to do more of?
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Seed collection
Seed processing (self)
Seed processing (third party, e.g. Forestart)
Seed purchasing
Tree growing
Contract growing/growing to order
Other, e.g. workshops, advisory, community engagement, volunteering
None - we are happy where we are now
If you selected Other, what would this include?
If you already do any contract growing, what do you ask for or need that makes it possible for you? For example, this could include advanced planning/lead in times, flexibility, risk sharing, transport logistics, seed purchasing or supply, someone to manage this, other?
What are your biggest challenges to contract growing, and how do you overcome them?
If you don't currently have seed processed by a third party, would you like to have access to this in the future, e.g. through a grant or a project?
Yes
No
Don't know
It depends
Do you have any of the following:
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UKISG certification
Plant Healthy certification
Plant Passport
FRM registration
None of the above
Other
What changes to local and national tree demand do you foresee in the next ten years?
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Please tell us how you think landscape scale, long-term projects like SCAMP and LLTLC could help to meaningfully support Scotland's native tree nursery sector. What else can you add to inform discussions about this – in terms of activity but also ecological, community and economic benefit?
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Would you be available for a telephone call at a time that suits you, not lasting more than 30 minutes, to explore your answers in a bit more detail? If so, we would pay you £25 for your time. If so, please tell us your name and email address below. We will only use this for the purposes of arranging a call.
*
Yes
No
Every respondent who completes this survey will be entered into a draw to win a "Taste of Galloway" hamper delivered to you from Harris & Co. Deli in Castle Douglas www.harrisandco.uk. Tell us if you would like to enter the draw below. The survey and the draw will close on 21/06/2026 and a lucky recipient selected shortly thereafter. Follow D&G Woodlands on social media to see the winner.
Yes (please fill in the below contact fields if so)
No
Your name
First Name
Last Name
Your email address
example@example.com
Submit Survey
DATA
Please note that all responses are handled anonymously, unless you sign up for the draw or a follow up telephone call in which case we ask for your details. Data will be gathered through this survey by Darroch Nurseries and compiled to give an anonymous overview of constraints and opportunities for tree nursery related projects through the SCAMP and LLTLC programmes. Individual responses will be deleted on 30/09/26. Any queries in meantime, please contact Darroch Nurseries at hello@darroch-nurseries.co.uk.
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