Scotland's forests are taking centre stage in a unique project to encourage thousands of people around the world to reconnect with their Scottish ancestry.

The online project - Forest Heritage Scotland - is a Year of Homecoming 2009 celebration organised by Forestry Commission Scotland and run in partnership with the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments Scotland (RCAHMS).

It will highlight sites within the national forest estate where remnants of lost industries and forgotten communities can be found and will encourage people of Scots descent to delve into their family history to discover connections with the sites.

They can then celebrate those connections by sending copies of old family photographs or snippets of family lore to the Forest Heritage site and help create a lasting memorial to the people who used to live and work at the featured sites. Contributions will feature on a Wall of Memories to be created at David Marshall Lodge, in the heart of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.