In 1996, Professor Chris Smout and Dr Fiona Watson set up the Scottish Woodland History Group with the aim of furthering the study of Scottish woodlands in a way that would be of interest and relevance to foresters, land managers and conservationists today. In 2006 it became part of the Native Woodlands Discussion Group, allowing us to add woodland history and archaeological elements to our events and activities.
From 1996 until 2019 there was an annual one-day autumn conference on woodland history and occasional workshops on archaeological and historic themes. The Proceedings of each conference are published and circulated to all delegates and NWDG members as pdf files. Follow this link to the past proceedings.
We have found a great deal of benefit comes from the sharing of ideas between woodland archaeologists and historians on the one hand and those concerned with modern woodland ecology, management and policy on the other. While the conference brings together a range of invited speakers from both academic and practical backgrounds, the emphasis is very much on discussion.
