Community case study:
Mull Community Native Tree Nursery
Founded in response to concerns over chemically treated mainland saplings, Mull CNTN began in 2018 with a mission to grow native trees from locally collected seed, preserving the island’s unique flora, fauna, and remnants of Atlantic rainforest.
Initially focused on supplying broadleaf trees required under commercial forestry felling licenses, the nursery now supports large-scale rewilding projects preserving genetic heritage and promoting biosecurity.
Run entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers, the nursery meets weekly and operates year-round, producing up to 10,000 trees annually. Volunteers of all ages engage in seed collection, processing and propagation, learning through experience and sharing knowledge over coffee and cake. It cell grows in root trainers and at this time of year the team is busy wrapping the saplings in bundles of 15 ready to go out for planting after Christmas.
The nursery shares its site with Dervaig Community Orchard, fostering strong ties with local schools and community groups.
With support from Trees for Life, Mull and Iona Community Trust, and the Scottish Land Fund, Mull CNTN has grown into a vital conservation hub. It contributes meaningfully to national reforestation goals, especially as commercial nurseries struggle to meet demand. The feedback from planters is that the locally grown trees are of superior quality to their commercial equivalents.
The group advocates for streamlined regulations and better funding to ease the burden on small-scale growers, believing that CTNs need to be better supported to ensure they are planting the best trees for the future.
Participation in initiatives like The Tree Council’s Growing Together and advocating for peer-to-peer learning further strengthens the group’s impact.
Time at the nursery is creative, active and socially and mentally enriching – an empowering way to restore Mull’s natural heritage.
