Amateur gardeners leave lasting legacy for rare Arran trees

Henry said: ‘When I first came to Arran to start work as an apprentice deer stalker and gamekeeper at 15 or 16 years old, I remember being astounded at the barren landscape. It had been destroyed completely and was devoid of trees through years of overgrazing and heath burning, which had decimated the tree population.

‘When I visited the glen, I noticed a little gem of a tree; it stood out as it was isolated and had survived despite the sheep and deer, and it’s what got me interested in the whitebeam species. I was also inspired by the amazing work that has taken place at Mar Lodge Estate over the years, where the Trust has had a positive impact on the landscape by controlling the deer effectively. This has helped the trees recover and start regenerating naturally, which has led to a fantastic transformation up there.’

Henry continued: ‘We started a small tree nursery in the garden, growing whitebeam and other trees I enjoyed by collecting seeds from the different species. We even sold them to the Forestry Commission at one point because we had so many. The undercover gardening started out of frustration at the lack of progress being made to protect the landscape in previous years. We would just go to different parts of the island and plant some trees while we were there.’

Margo added: ‘The whitebeam are a robust species but are very difficult to grow from seed, so most of the saplings planted didn’t survive, as they weren’t protected from herbivores with guards for example. But we have had some success. The species was at the point of extinction with only a handful of trees left on the island, but Henry has the magic touch when it comes to growing them, when others haven’t been so successful’.

‘We’re delighted at the time and dedication the Trust is putting into the landscape now. Working with Kate is amazing, as she’s been there for a long time, so we’ve developed a good relationship with her and we’re happy to help with the volunteer and school groups when we can. Henry is very good at explaining to people why you want to grow trees, the importance of them and what they do for the atmosphere and soil fertility, which I think there should be more of in schools.’

Henry continued: ‘It’s always difficult to know how to get children inspired. Strangely enough, a daughter of a friend who helped us plant trees in Glen Rosa when she was about 8 or 9 years old is now working at the botanic gardens and she has special responsibility for the whitebeam. It has been lovely for me because I’ve known her since she was a baby. It’s not through me doing anything special, just planting trees – but they can see what you’re doing, and if they take it up, that’s great. It only takes a few to make a difference.

‘As long as trees are fruiting, they’ll be self-seeding and regenerating naturally. The trees planted years ago now have lots of berries on them and are doing fine, so the rangers shouldn’t need to do much, just look after them. We’re happy to support them and talk about our experience if it makes a difference in the long term.’

The National Trust for Scotland protects and expands woodland habitats through natural regeneration at places like Mar Lodge Estate, and through planting (where appropriate) when natural regeneration is unlikely to succeed. This helps capture carbon, increase biodiversity, and protect and conserve native and endangered species.

Dedicate a Tree helps our charity to raise funds to breathe new life into our country’s landscapes, by planting new trees. You can support this work by dedicating a tree for yourself or a loved one, in celebration or in memory, to help nurture and protect Scotland’s wonderful woodlands for generations to come.

Kate Sampson, Head Ranger at Brodick Country Park, said: ‘Working with Henry and Margo has been great fun, and their passion for the Arran whitebeam and trees in general is evident from all the work they’ve done throughout the years on the island to help restore the landscape to how it used to be. I’m incredibly grateful for their expertise and the time they’ve taken to share their experience with us, hopefully instilling their passion in our rangers and the volunteer and school groups that come along to help us with the planting.

‘Although they have made a great difference in helping sustain the whitebeam species through their tree planting, I’d discourage other guerilla gardeners from following in their footsteps, either in Glen Rosa or beyond. Planting the wrong tree in the wrong location can have a detrimental impact on the landscape. While we appreciate the good intentions, it would be more practical to support our conservation work through more conventional methods, such as dedicating a tree.

‘By dedicating a tree to someone special, you’re not only helping to save rare tree species on Arran, but also having a positive impact at our projects across the country, in the North East and at Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve in Perthshire.’

To dedicate a tree, visit our campaign page, choose from one of three projects to support and decide how much to donate to your chosen project. You will then receive a personalised certificate and have the option to share your dedication in the Trust’s virtual woodland, while also receiving regular updates on the woodland projects.

Dedicate a Tree contributes to the National Trust for Scotland’s vision to deliver nature, beauty and heritage for everyone. Our 10-year strategy, launched in 2022, outlines our vision of caring for, sharing and conserving Scotland’s natural heritage, and contributes to our conservation objectives to stabilise and improve the condition of our estate, enable nature to flourish, and enrich Scotland’s protected heritage.