Grantee: Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust

Duration:  12 months (May 2026- May 2027)

 

This project will increase the resilience of Eigg Tree Nursery, boosting efforts to expand native woodland on the island.

The Project

To date Eigg Tree Nursery has sown, grown, and planted out more than 50,000 trees on the Isle of Eigg. Many more are thriving in planting projects across the Highlands and Islands.

Growing on Eigg is no small feat – with strong winds and salty air, it’s a tough environment. But this is the nursery’s strength: the trees raised here are hardy, resilient, and perfectly adapted to survive in Scotland’s wild landscapes.

Scotland has only 19.5% tree cover, almost half the European average of 38%. Government targets for more tree planting are missed every year but planting trees is one of the best ways to reverse nature decline and they have knock-on effects for humans, such as reducing flooding and protecting the soil.

With this funding, the Tree Nursery will continue their vital role, working specifically to:

• Replace plantation woodland with a thriving, mixed forest. The plan is to gradually cut the single species plantation, using the wood on the island as a source of sustainable firewood for our island community.
• Plant more trees on the island – improving biodiversity through creating habitats and food sources for countless species
• Grow their volunteering and learning initiatives, enabling people of all ages to spend time together, gain skills, and connect with nature and the changing seasons.
• Host music events, inspiring films and organise guests visiting Eigg to give talks on trees, nature restoration or anything connected and interesting.

Photos courtesy of Isle of Eigg Tree Nursery

Crowdfunding campaign

Crowdfunders do take a significant amount of time and work, but when executed well, can have impacts far greater than funding.

HIEF were delighted to collaborate with Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust on their recent Tree Nursery crowdfunding campaign. In April 2026, they successfully raised £30,652 from over 250 generous supporters.

HIEF provided an initial match funding of £7,000. Further funding was secured from Aviva Community Fund, who matched any donations up to the value of £250.

The final breakdown was:
HIEF: £7,000
Aviva Community Fund: £10,971
The crowd: £12,681

A number of generously donated rewards further incentivised public donations. This included music, accommodation, clothing, plant pots, books, whisky, and artwork.

Above all else, the campaign demonstrated the wide-reaching support for the Eigg Tree Nursery, whose work will continue to significantly benefit communities and the natural environment and communities.
Thank you to everyone who donated, shared the word, and played a part in creating positive and lasting change.

In their words

“The campaign was a huge success. It was totally overwhelming to get the first target so quickly – we hit £14k by day two. What was surprising was hitting that target with under 100 donors; our average donation was around £50, which was much higher than the £15 we expected. In the end, the crowdfunder brought in triple what we would have got if we had just taken direct funding.

It has also massively raised our profile, resulting in tree orders from as far away as Uist because people saw the BBC coverage. Most importantly, it has given us a strong base of support who believe in our work, which really strengthens our case when we apply for future funding.

HIEF brought us together with a crowdfunder expert which really helped us with planning and preparing for the crowdfunder before launch day. Louis from HIEF gave us a lot of help and support, and was absolutely invaluable in the run up to launch day and the first week or two – from help with the crowdfunder video to getting the word out to our supporters”

Tamsin Ogle, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust