Drone seeding trial aims to revolutionise rainforest restoration

One of the largest-ever drone tree seeding trials using native species has been launched in the South West, with researchers hoping the project will revolutionise the expansion of temperate rainforests in the region. The project is seen as a promising step towards restoring one of the UK's most endangered ecosystems while offering new solutions to address the climate and biodiversity crises.

Led by the Woodland Trust, the ambitious initiative saw high-tech drones scatter 75,000 seeds across the rolling hills of Bodmin. Each drone, weighing 110kg and capable of carrying 58kg of seeds, can efficiently cover areas that are difficult or dangerous for human planters to access.

The Woodland Trust is working with the South West Rainforest Alliance on the project, which aims to triple the coverage of temperate rainforest in Devon and Cornwall by 2050. Currently, these rainforests occupy just 8% of land area, but the project targets expansion to 24%.

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"Rainforest once covered 75% of Devon and Cornwall, but we have lost 90% of it," explained Sam Manning, Project Officer for South West Rainforests at the Woodland Trust. "These are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. They are biodiversity hotspots, home to over 2,000 species of lichen. Sadly, rainforests now cover just 1% of the Earth’s land surface, and we are one of only a small handful of rainforest nations left on Earth."

The project focuses on developing innovative methods to accelerate rainforest restoration. Drones, said Manning, offer a faster, more cost-effective solution for dispersing seeds, especially in areas that are too steep, unsafe, or remote for traditional planting methods.

"Drones can overcome these limitations, making woodland creation more accessible, safer, and faster," Manning added. In just eight hours, the drones successfully seeded 11 hectares of land with native rainforest tree species such as pedunculate oak, alder, wild cherry, downy birch, and hazel.

The trial also includes "control areas" to compare the effectiveness of drone seeding with natural regeneration. Researchers will revisit the trial sites over the next three years to monitor germination rates and assess tree development. Manning noted that the team hopes for a seed-to-tree success rate of at least 25%.

"If successful, this trial could inspire practitioners and funders to refine and expand drone seeding methods for woodland creation," Manning said. "While only a few companies currently have legal permission to operate such drones, the sector is rapidly expanding. We hope this growing demand will strengthen the supply chain for tree seeds, which remains a challenge for large-scale drone seeding projects."

The seeding trial is part of the Woodland Trust's 'Rainforest Recovery' initiative, supported by DEFRA's Species Survival Fund. The project is the South West branch of the broader Rainforest Restoration Project, which is being delivered by the Woodland Trust in partnership with Plantlife and funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Author Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, who recently published Our Oaken Bones, provided some of the land for the seeding project. Hanbury-Tenison described the initiative as a vital step in reversing rainforest destruction.

"Up to a fifth of the British Isles was once rainforest, yet less than 1% of this habitat remains due to centuries of deforestation," he said. "If we are to restore these vital ecosystems, we must embrace innovative solutions like drone seeding. My book highlights the incredible role these habitats play in climate mitigation, biodiversity, and human wellbeing. Now is the time to remember that we are a rainforest people living on a rainforest island."