Forestry drones used to plant birch on Scottish hills
1 June 2023Drones have been used to scatter birch seeds on Scottish hills, with an estimated 20 million seeds scattered by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).
The drone seeding is the latest phase in efforts by FLS , working with Transport Scotland, to reduce the likelihood of landslips on a section of the A83. The technique – new to FLS - is being tested and evaluated by FLS partners, Forest Research and Auto Spray Systems.
Planting native tree species on these slopes will ensure that over time an extensive root system will develop through the soils, improving soil structure as well as to reduce the effects of surface erosion on much of the exposed mineral soils.
The seeds were dispersed in a matter of hours over areas of the landslip, which were able to access, which would have taken weeks to cover by hand planting. The drones covered a 12ha area in a very short time.
FLS said it expected drone use to be soon adopted across the country for such uses.
“If only 1 per cent of those seeds is successful that will mean 200,000 trees will soon be growing on this slope, their roots slowly binding the soil and making it much more stable,” it said.
Further trials into other capabilities for which the drone could have, such a lifting materials onto site, will also potentially be trialled as well.
