Grantee: Wild Arran

Duration:  39 months (September, 2025 – November, 2028) 

 

Background

The Isle of Arran is home not only to rare temperate rainforest, but also native plant species found only on Arran. The Arran whitebeam (Sorbus arranensis), the Catacol whitebeam (Sorbus pseudomeinichii), and the Arran service-tree (Sorbus pseudofennica) are found nowhere else in the world. These trees are some of the most endangered in the world, representing millions of years of evolution, and protecting them is therefore vital for future ecological resilience.

Wild Arran LTD manage Drumadoon Estate, on the west coast of Arran, with the aim of restoring temperate rainforest, farmland, heather moor, peat bog, and wetlands across the 640-acre landscape.

The Project

This project focuses on establishing a community tree nursery at Drumadoon estate. Seeds from local trees, including the rare endemic species, will be collected by community volunteers in partnership with the Woodland Trust. Saplings will be grown at Drumadoon, then relocated to groups and landowners around the island.

Simultaneously, the project will archive the extensive tree-growing knowledge of Henry Murdo and Margo McLellan, Arran residents who have dedicated their lives to protecting and restoring the endangered Arran whitebeam.

This multifaceted project aims to increase native tree populations, build ecological and climate resilience, transfer knowledge, and foster a sense of community stewardship.