Seed collecting

A few Scots are making part of their living from native tree seed collecting. The seeds are sold on to nurseries specialising in known-provenance material (i.e. plants grown from seeds gathered in known locations), and to the Forestry Commission. The nurseries supply new native woodland plantings in Scotland.

According to estimates made in 2001 by the Flora Celtica project, there were about 6 ‘serious’ seasonal seed collectors in Scotland deriving a significant part of their income from the business, and a further 20 working for 1-2 months per year (often sub-contracted). Prices ranged from £100/kg for silver birch seed to £1.20/kg for rowan berries.

The Forestry Commission collects approximately 75% of all seed gathered in Scotland, the rest coming from the private sector. All Forestry Commission seed is contract-collected, and on average they buy 2 tonnes of acorns, 50kg of Scots pine, 40kg of birch, 500kg of rowan and 200kg of ash each year. Several other species are collected but these are relatively insignificant. Only a small number of people (<10) are directly contracted for Forestry Commission seed collecting, but several more are involved due to sub-contracting.

Known provenance

Planting trees from locally-collected seed helps to ensure that they contribute fully to the woodland ecosystem. If seeds are imported from abroad they may flower or fruit at unusual times of year, reducing their value to other wildlife. Keeping the seed source local also helps to preserve regional genetic variation.