The Borders Forest Trust was set up in response to the opportunities raised by the Millennium Forest initiative to help restore native woodlands in the Scottish Borders, an area where semi-natural woodland is still widespread but restricted to small and isolated fragments most of which have been neglected for many years. BFT has attracted strong public interest and support in the Borders and places particular emphasis on involving the local community in seeking to maximise local benefits which woodlands can generate. They have taken forward a wide ranging series of projects which include:

• Carrying out an inventory of over 100 semi-natural woodlands in the Borders and preparing management plans for the most important or threatened.
• Improvement and expansion of 31 ha of mixed woodland owned by the Chisholme Institute.
• Location and survey of all the remaining fragments of juniper in the region. This is now a rare and threatened form of woodland and proposals for restoring the key sites have been prepared. Cuttings have been taken and planted out on several sites.
• Establishment of the Wood School at Ancrum, a centre for the sustainable and creative use and marketing of native woodland products. This is proving very successful providing facilities and training for local woodworkers using Scottish hardwoods. It produces a range of furniture and other products for sale, the profits helping to support BFT's wider work.
• Acquisition by purchase or agreement and management of 14 community woodlands, some 90 ha in total. Work has involved planting, thinning and fencing to protect and improve the woods as well as provision of paths.
• Ancient Woodland restoration – a rolling programme of works to protect some of the most important native woodland remnants on private land by fencing and encouragement of regeneration. Nine sites covering 87 ha have been fenced so far.
• Educational and artistic work with local schools including tree planting and sculptured features in school grounds.
• Production of 20 management plans for local landowners to provide guidance for the conservation of red squirrels which are under threat in the Borders.
• Restoration of 6 kms of hedgerow in Berwickshire to help restore the traditional landscape and provide a demonstration for other farmers.