Moray Coast – Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th October 2025
The 2025 Reforesting Scotland Gathering has now been finalised and is open for bookings. This year we’ll be heading for the first time ever to the Moray Coast, not far from the town of Forres. The ‘Costa del Moray’ is famed for a unique microclimate due to its position by the sea and in the rain shadow of the Cairngorms.
Amongst other effects, it is one of the few places where Scots pine is the dominant timber species. The nearby Findhorn Community is the birthplace of Trees for Life and has attracted a range of other ecological projects to the area. We’ll explore all this from our base at The Loft, a farm-based camping and events venue with lots of new tree planting and a network of walks.
What’s Included
Weekend tickets include all events at the Gathering which will start on Friday afternoon with the Buildings Tour, followed by dinner and evening sessions at The Loft. There will be a range of speakers, practical workshops, visits and tours over the weekend to choose from plus a ceilidh on Saturday night. The event is fully catered and the Gathering finishes after lunch on Sunday.
Programme (note that this is still subject to change)
Friday
10:00 Buildings Tour (an informal tour of interesting sites en route to the gathering – itinerary tbc)
16:30 Registration open
18:00 Welcome talk
18:30 Dinner
19:30 Icebreaker, Soapbox, social time
Saturday
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Registration starts
10:00 Talk from a local project tbc
11:00 Choose from a range of site visits, walks and workshops (see below)
16:30 Project Discussions – get involved in a range of RS current projects
17:30 Talk from a local project tbc
18:15 Talk from a local project tbc
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Ceilidh & raffle
Sunday
08:00 Breakfast
09:30 AGM and RS projects roundup
10:30 We’ll have a range of practical craft and skills workshops, plus any other discussion sessions which members may wish to lead. Volunteers to suggest and lead workshop sessions welcome!
12:00 Plenary – feedback from visits and workshops
13:00 Lunch
13:30 Close of main gathering; Afternoon activities at The Loft tbc
Saturday Visits
We have some great visits and workshops lined up this year with more to be added soon. A booking form to choose your preferred option will be sent out a few weeks before the gathering. Visits confirmed to date include:
- Logie Timber sawmill & estate
- Lynbreck Croft
- Culbin Sands & Hinterland
- Local foraging walk
- more to come!
Sunday Workshops
As is traditional at the gathering, workshops for Sunday can be spur of the moment and suggested by attendees over the course of the weekend. They can be discussion based or practical. We already have a few lined up such as:
- Tree seed collection & treatment
- Making a mini traditional hurdle
- Natural fibres and plant dyes
- Plus more to come!
Accommodation
We have pre-booked a limited number of wigwam pods at The Loft. These can be made up as a double or twin which you can choose in the booking form. There are other cabins and wigwams available which can be booked direct with The Loft which may suit larger families or groups.
Camping is available on site and the same rate applies for tents and campervans.
There are plenty of B&B and hotel options nearby to choose from too. If you are looking for hostel accommodation then there is Findhorn village hostel 5 miles away.
Pricing and Rates
This year we have simplified our pricing and tickets are only available to members. If you’re not yet a member, you can purchase membership online. (It’s always been cheaper to purchase membership and a member’s ticket than a non-members one by the way!)
If you can, please consider paying the supporter rate as this really helps us to keep the cost of the gathering down. The concessionary rate is for students, unwaged etc or anyone who feels they genuinely cannot afford the standard rate.
Children (under 16) do not require membership. Children under 5 are free.
Weekend tickets include all meals from dinner on Friday to lunch on Sunday. Day tickets include lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. All meals are vegetarian and a simple continental breakfast will be served from 8-9am. We’ll have plenty of breaks for tea, coffee and cake. There is no bar so BYOB.
Further Information
We will send out a registration form to all attendees a month before the gathering to give you further information on the weekend as well as pre-booking visits and workshops you wish to attend.
Having trouble paying online?
If you prefer to pay over the phone or by email for the gathering tickets, please email the office at