We're creating an organic tree nursery and community woodland hub, and looking for extra funding to supplement our Forestry Commission grant
Tree Source Organic Tree Nursery
Please help us to realise our vision for a new concept in organic tree nurseries
We are growing organic trees as part of a regenerative, biodiverse landscape that provides income whilst helping nature and community to thrive
As the only organic tree nursery in Britain with expertise and experience in agroforestry, we are uniquely placed to meet the fast-growing demand for UK-provenance trees.
We grow heritage fruits, rare nuts and medicinal trees alongside native broadleaves grown from ancient and veteran seed, responding to the growing demand for agroforestry and forest garden land management models that are both ecologically and economically sustainable.
Our nursery is integrated into a wider landscape plan, featuring community woodlands, forest garden elements and wetland regeneration.
‘A community of trees, animals and people sharing resources and thriving together ‘
We’re backed by the Soil Association and the Forestry Commission and need your additional support to help us accelerate our plans. More seeds propagated, more seedlings planted, means greater tree coverage sooner. We have crucial infrastructure elements that we need to install this spring and summer so that we can sow in greater numbers this autumn.
What’s our Strategy?
Approximately 175,000 trees will be available for sale and donation per year once we achieve full production in three years’ time, with potential for further growth over the next five years.
◇Trees are grown from seed in Air-Pots® (used by Kew gardens and proven to increase growth by up to 20%)
◇Focusing on the sale of trees between 2 and 7 years old where the shortfall in the market is greatest. With the added advantage of handling and transplanting at this age, trees are most receptive to ensure successful establishment.
◇Achieve carbon net-negative operation and decrease operational costs by generating renewable energy from on-site springs and ponds, using a water ram pump linked to a hydroelectric turbine
◇Seeds produced on-site will be used for future propagation making the system fully self-sustaining
◇Our site will sequester carbon and increase biodiversity. A range of emerging payment and credit schemes may be targeted to realise the economic value of these benefits.
Our Tree Academy
A 'not for profit' venture that will add value to our business, to launch after break even in 2025.
Focused primarily on trees and soil, we work with humans to educate and inspire nature connection in our community and beyond
(Soil Association, Forestry Commission, New School of the Anthroprocene, Land Workers Alliance, Local Schools)
Who are Tree Source?
We stand at the forefront of a landscape regeneration revolution, working with trees and their supporting ecosystems through nature-based approaches. At Tree Source, our mission is to design, deliver, and manage resilient regenerative woodlands and agroforestry systems, prioritising dynamic soil health.
We advocate widespread wilding to restore biodiversity and demonstrate the living value of trees, both ecologically and financially. Historically, the financial value of trees was only realised after felling. We expand this value network beyond timber, from seed to woodland creation.
Charlie Marsden-Noton Co-founder & CEO
25 years’ experience as an arboricultural consultant and dendrologist, dedicated to the understanding of tree and woodland ecology and applied tree remediation through soil vitality.
A re-wilding expert determined to reconnect the world with nature through a passion for the ecology and morphology of ancient and veteran trees.
Rangana Oliveira Co-founder & Creative Director
Adriana has 27 years’ experience setting up and managing businesses, both in the Wellness and Landscaping industries.
Furthermore, as a qualified Psychologist with a background in conservation, Rangana has worked with indigenous peoples and their land in the rainforests of the Amazon and Costa Rica, deepening her understanding of human relationships with nature and our keystone role within its rich and diverse ecosystems.
Why do we need another Tree Nursery?
◇ The UK government has committed to increase tree planting by 30,000 hectares of new trees each year in the UK, and the Woodland Trust wants to plant 50m trees over the next five years, with the aim to at least treble tree planting rates in England by 2025 and has set legally binding targets to increase tree and woodland cover to 16.5% of total land area by 2050.
◇ Subsidies supporting planting targets almost exclusively require UK grown trees, with extra value placed on local provenance (Forest Genetic Material Seed Source Identified certification). Strong epigenetics and suitability for the changing climate will also be a determining factor, therefore we will be uniquely placed to respond to buyers looking to qualify for such subsidies.
◇ There is increasing interest in agroforestry driven by subsidies - Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS), which in turn is spiking interest from farmers directly as they discover the contribution trees can make to improving resilience in agricultural practices.
◇ Prior to Brexit there was strong market reliance on European nurseries to supplement UK suppliers. Post-Brexit phytosanitary requirements at border is increasing demand for UK growers.
Why an ‘Organic’ Tree Nursery?
The Soil Association’s organic certification is the benchmark accreditation and is aligned with our core values.
What have we invested so far?
What additional support do we need?
Here are the just some of the ways your donation will be directed into the nursery infrastructure costs.
1. Construction of compost bays, so that the nursery can create its own organic compost.
2. Construction of propagation tables, protective netting and 2 x shade tunnels.
3. Forming of stone and grass tracks to provide access and hard standing for our potting area.
4. Installation of irrigation and water tanks.
5. Creation of our wetland area including pond, water ram pump restoration and installation of a hydroelectric turbine.
6. Construction of works barn to serve as equipment storage, welfare, seed processing area and educational space.
7. Soil lab – to enable soil biology testing and brewing of compost teas, ensuring the trees have the microbial and fungal associations required for natural pest and disease resistance.
8. Propagation and potting – before saplings are planted out or potted on, they will need to be germinated from seed in seed trays (Air-pots) This process means the seedlings start life in a community, mimicking natural regeneration, ensuring greater viability and avoids the need for undercutting the tap root in the field.
9. Our seed trays (air-pot) will be used year after year, as they are made from recycled plastic and last a minimum of 20 years.
Summary:
Compost Bays - £2,000
Propagation zone - Trestle tables and shade tunnels £5,250
Access Tracks - £6,000
Water tank and irrigation - £5,300
Wetland area and restoration of existing ram pump - £4,450
Equipment/Welfare barn - £4,000
Soil Lab - £5,000
Seed trays and Air-pots for first year - £5,000
Compost - £4,200
TOTAL - £41,200
We hope our story has inspired you to contribute towards our vision, enabling us to continue our path in the regenerative revolution in agriculture, with climate and the environment at the heart of our business.
‘A wild revolution in tree planting from the ground up’
If you would like to find out more about Tree Source please visit our website at www.treesourceco.co.uk
We would also like to offer two further opportunities to learn more about our journey, and the organic tree nursery:
1) Webinar - This is a Q&A Session with our founders Charlie and Rangana. A chance to ask questions about the tree nursery, and the wilding revolution that is at the heart of this endeavour. Zoom joining details as follows:
Topic: Tree Source Organic Tree Nursery - Q&A Session
Time: Jun 20, 2023 06:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/81497121316?pwd=V2h0QUdGVmd0eXZCTEJaUDRkTmhVUT09
Meeting ID: 814 9712 1316
Passcode: gFgsM3
alternatively, if you would like a more immersive experience:
Guided Visit of Tree Nursery - A chance to visit our nursery, take a guided walk with Charlie and Rangana to see the project in its infancy. The session will run between 9am to 11am on Saturday 10th June 2023. Please contact Raj at [email protected] to register your interest.
This project successfully funded on 20th July 2023