Newton Tree Nursery expansion to treble Scotland’s tree production

The Newton Tree Nursery will allow Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) to almost treble tree production, increasing output from seven million to nearly 20 million trees per year by 2029.

The facility, the largest and most advanced tree-growing glasshouse in the UK, began seedling operations in March and already has 12 million trees established within its glasshouse.

First Minister John Swinney said: “Scotland’s world-renowned forests and woodlands are a natural powerhouse, and one of the most important resources we have to tackle the climate emergency.

“Our investment in this state-of-the-art glasshouse will not only contribute to environmental sustainability and help to restore habitats, but it will also support rural jobs and the sustainable use of timber in the construction industry. The Newton Tree Nursery project is a national asset, powering Scotland’s green recovery, forestry resilience, and environmental goals for decades to come.

“Tackling the climate emergency and growing Scotland’s economy are two of my government’s top priorities and together they go hand in hand. We cannot do one without the other and innovative, industry leading facilities like the Newton Tree Nursery will play a vital role in achieving these goals.”

FLS chief executive Kevin Quinlan said: “Newton Nursery represents a major investment by the Scottish Government in the future of forestry in Scotland. It strengthens Forestry and Land Scotland’s ability to supply young trees at the scale and standard needed to support a resilient, productive and sustainable forest resource.

“This is especially important for the timber industry – which continues to grow as Scotland looks to reduce reliance on imports and embrace timber as a low-carbon material of the future. By increasing capacity at Newton, we’re investing at the very start of that supply chain – ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality planting stock for years to come.”

The upgraded nursery will support national forests, which play a vital role in rural economies, flood mitigation, biodiversity improvement, and carbon sequestration.

Originally established in 1931, the nursery’s redevelopment was funded with £20 million from the Scottish Government and £6 million from FLS.

The investment contributes to meeting the country’s woodland creation targets and bolsters Scotland’s commitment to tackling climate change.