FAQs

Every tree begins its life as a seed. These little seeds come in all shapes and sizes and they're packed with all the nutrients it needs to survive and grow into a magnificent tree.

Nuts are some of the easiest seeds to collect and grow and that’s what we’re encouraging people to plant during Plantober.

Trees are vital for all of us. But centuries of deforestation mean we desperately need more. Growing a tree from seed is a simple and easy way to get outside, connect to nature and help protect our precious planet.

Plus, growing a tree from a local seed that you’ve foraged means that your tree will already be suited to it’s local environment, giving it the best possible chance of survival. And it’s a super cheap way to plant more native species.

We recommend planting native trees as these are best suited for our wildlife and climate.

For Plantober, we’re collecting nut seeds as these are some of the easiest seeds to grow. These include oak, beech, walnut, horse chestnut, sweet chestnut, and hazel.

For hazel, chestnut and walnut seeds, you’ll need to carefully remove the outer shell.

Woodlands, parks and even arboretums are great places to take a walk to collect your tree seeds. Look for old, mature trees as these a more likely to produce lots of seeds. You’ll find most tree seeds in areas where there is plenty of light.

The best tree seeds will be from your local area as these will be already suited to grow in your local conditions.

You’re welcome to pick up tree seeds up in public places. But it’s a good idea to ask the permissions of landowners if you’re on private land.

Seeds from a mature tree is always a good place to start, but young trees will still produce seeds. Simply look on the floor under the tree for fallen tree seeds, like conkers and acorns.

A great way to check that your nut seeds are good to use is the float test. Simply pop them in a cup or bucket of water. If they float, it’s best not to use them as they are less likely to germinate. If they sink, then go ahead and plant them.

Try to avoid seeds from trees that look diseased. Watch out for dead branches or bark falling away as well as withered or discoloured leaves. If you’re unsure, it’s probably best to look for another tree.

October is the perfect time to collect your tree seed. But you can collect them throughout autumn. Often the later seeds are of better quality, so try not to collect the first seeds that fall. Lots of wildlife, like squirrels, depend on seeds for winter food so you may have to get in early before they all go!

Try to plant your seeds as soon as you can after collecting them.

You should plant your seeds as soon as possible after collecting them so that they don’t dry out. In fact, it’s a good idea to have everything ready at home before you even go out to collect your seeds.

Storing your seeds in a bucket of water will help keep them moist if you’re not able to plant them straightaway.

If you’re in holiday in Inverness and bring your seed home to St Ives, you might find that your seed struggles to adapt and grow.

Don’t bring seeds home from abroad as not only are these not adapted to our climate, you might bring invasive pests and diseases home with you!

All trees have different growth and germination rates. Most seeds need a spell of cold weather to germinate so once you’ve planted your seed, leave it in a sheltered place outside over the winter.  You might even plant 2 or 3 seeds in the same pot to increase your chances of success.  

Choosing the right seed and looking after it well will give your seed the best chance of germinating and growing into a beautiful tree.

Sign up below and we’ll email you with tips and reminders throughout the year to help you care for your new tree.

Next year, when your tree has sprouted, we’ll encourage you to bring it to a local community nursery where it can become part of a community tree planting project and grow for generations.