Wildlife and trees

What can you spot?
 
Red Squirrels
Keep an eye out for the telltale signs that a Red Squirrel has nibbled the seeds from the pinecones beneath the trees – Glentress Forest lies within a ‘Priority Area for Red Squirrel conservation’ (PARC), so they’re a very important neighbour!
 
 
Ospreys
Glentress Forest is home to a huge variety of birds, from Buzzards to Crossbill and Waxwing. Particularly exciting visitors are the Ospreys, which cruise the River Tweed’s route searching for fish, and nest in the forest between May and September.
 
 
Want to learn more about the wildlife here? Book onto a Forest Ranger experience and discover all the secrets of Glentress!
Wildlife at Glentress Forest
Trees you'll find in the forest
 
Scots pine
Scots pine is one of only three native conifers, and our only native pine. You'll spot this all-year round as its needle-like leaves are evergreen. It’s the perfect habitat for iconic Scottish wildlife such as the red squirrel, as well as animals like the pine marten and Scottish wildcat. Scots pines in southern England are also the main caterpillar foodplant for the pine hawk-moth.
 
 
Hazel
With nuts that are eaten by people, squirrels and hazel dormice, the Hazel is a great source of food and shelter for many other creatures. It’s also home to lots of fungi, mosses and lichen.Hazel supports lots of species of butterfly and ground-nesting birds, and with its bendy stems, it’s used for lots of weaving, thatching and even in gardening – it’s a conservation hero!
 
 
Norway Spruce
The festive-looking Norway spruce is a familiar non-native tree in the UK. It’s fast-growing, with friendly winter colour, needle-like leaves and a rich, sweet smell. Norway spruce trees provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife, including beetles, weevils and hoverflies, and its cones are very popular with squirrels.
 
 
Sitka Spruce
With needle-like leaves that are sharp, straight and flattened, the Sitka Sprice is much more prickly than the similar Norway Spruce. Sitka spruce trees grow close together, forming a dense canopy which few plants can grow beneath. This dense foliage provides cover from the wind and rain for larger mammals, while birds of prey and smaller birds, such as crossbill, tree creeper, coal tit and siskin, can use it for nesting.
Trees at Glentress Forest

We’re more than just a holiday

Nestled within inspiring natural spaces, we offer a unique way to experience and enjoy the UK’s forests, helping you experience and reconnect with nature.

We look after the land we love for us all, protecting wildlife and helping to preserve the forest for the future. By putting nature centre-stage, we give you the best of the outdoors. A sense of freedom and a unique experience, where you feel connected to the forest and to each other. Because you don’t just visit the forest, you really feel it.

And once you’ve found that Forest Feeling, you’ll never let it go.

Let's look after what we love

Help to care for the wildlife around you in small, but important ways. You'll find it's as good for you as it is for nature!

Give nature a helping hand by....

  • Creating habitat piles using old logs and branches
  • Picking up any litter you see – the forest and wildlife will thank you for it
  • Turning off the lights when they’re not in use to reduce energy use
  • Using the bins provided to separate your waste and recycle properly
Supporting the forest