A BORDERS environmental charity is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a conference which has drawn in a special guest speaker.

Next month the Borders Forest Trust will mark 25 years since its inception with the Rewilding the Borderlands 25th Anniversary Conference in Melrose, where environmental journalist and activist George Monbiot will address the audience (via video link).

In its 25 years, starting with the rewilding of the Carrifran Woods – where more than 700,000 trees have been planted – the Borders Forest Trust has worked to rewild areas of southern Scotland as part of its 'Wild Heart land'.

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As well as planting across the Carrifran Wildwood, the Borders Forest Trust and its volunteers have also planted two million native tress species across its sites at Talla and Gameshope, and Corehead and the Devil's Beeftub.

At the conference, to be held on October 8 – followed by walks around the Trust's three sites on October 9 – speakers will highlight the history of the Borders Forest Trust, as well as topical sessions on peatlands from Clifton Bain who is programme advisor of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, and from Peter Cairns of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance who will discuss what rewilding has achieved in Scotland and the Alliance's vision for the future.

Stephanie Young, chair of the Borders Forest Trust, said: “We are really proud of what Borders Forest Trust has achieved in the last 25 years and, this is a chance to celebrate and, meet with members and supporters, many of whom have been with us from the beginning.

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"It is also a chance to look forward into the future too, as this conference is also about learning from and building on the first 25 years.

"I would like to thank all who have supported us and invite you to join us, in person or virtually on the 8th of October.”

For more information, including the purchase of tickets for the Rewilding the Borderlands 25th Anniversary Conference, visit: bordersforesttrust.org