Tagsa Uibhist is delighted to announce a new two‑year collaboration agreement with the Woodland Trust/Point and Sandwick Trust that will see the long‑term management of the Uist Community Tree Nursery formally transfer to Tagsa from June 2026.

The nursery, established in 2022 through an informal partnership between the Croft Woodlands Project (funded by WT/PST), Stòras Uibhist, and Tagsa Uibhist, has already become a vital local resource. For decades, almost all tree stock used in the Western Isles had to be imported from the mainland: bringing risks of pests and diseases, high transportation costs, and plants poorly suited to island conditions. The Uist nursery was created to change that, producing native tree species grown from Uist and Barra‑sourced seed, adapted to thrive in the unique climate of the islands.

Since its inception, the nursery has grown into a fully accredited operation under both the ‘UK & Ireland Sourced and Grown’ scheme and the Scottish Government’s Plant Passporting requirements. Demand for trees continues to rise, with crofters, community groups, and Forestry Grant Scheme projects requiring up to 15,000 trees annually.

Under the new agreement, WT/PST will continue to support Tagsa Uibhist with £5,000 per year for two years, alongside technical advice and seed‑collection support. Tagsa will take responsibility for day‑to‑day management, staffing, administration, sales, and maintaining the site’s high standards of biosecurity.

This transition marks a significant step in strengthening local resilience, creating employment, and reinforcing the role of volunteers in supporting environmental sustainability. Income from tree sales will be reinvested directly into the nursery, ensuring its long‑term viability.

Tagsa Uibhist CEO Chris MacLullich said, “We are proud to take forward this project, which not only supports local biodiversity but brings people together with a shared purpose. This is an exciting milestone for community‑led environmental action in Uist.”

Croft Woodlands adviser Viv Halcrow adds “I’m delighted the Uist nursery is established and fully operational. It is great to have a local supply of trees for planting schemes. Another positive aspect is bringing interested volunteers together to help with the more time-consuming jobs; everyone seems to enjoy that and it’s fundamental to the success of the nursery”.

The partnership represents a strong, collaborative commitment to growing the future of Uist—one tree at a time.