Rare tree lands on Tresco

On Monday 16th March, a rare and critically endangered Mulanje cedar tree (Widdringtonia whytei) was flown to Tresco by Penzance Helicopters alongside Dan Luscombe from Forestry England's Bedgebury National Pinetum, marking an important step in both international plant conservation and our island-wide replanting programme following Storm Goretti.

The young tree - grown in the nursery at Bedgebury National Pinetum - was then planted on Tresco by Dan Luscombe together with our garden team - including the island’s Head of Estate Alasdair Moore and Head Gardener Andrew Lawson - and High Sheriff of Cornwall Geraint Richards: Head Forester to the King. The planting forms part of a wider effort to restore trees across the island and represents a hopeful beginning to the new season of planting and regeneration.

Because the Mulanje cedar tree is sensitive to frost and cannot tolerate prolonged cold, most parts of the UK are unsuitable for its cultivation. Tresco’s mild maritime climate, however, offers one of the few locations in Britain where it is hoped that the species could successfully grow outdoors.

Native to Mount Mulanje in Malawi, the Mulanje cedar is a remarkable but tragic example of how overexploitation can drive a species to the brink. Once prized for its durable and fragrant timber, decades of unsustainable harvesting- combined with illegal logging, fires and land pressure have devastated the trees populations. The species became the first tree in Africa to be declared commercially extinct in 2018.

Today, there are no known mature, seed-producing Mulanje cedars remaining in the wild.

However, conservationists were able to preserve a small quantity of seed in seed banks in Malawi and the UK. The young trees being distributed today have been grown from this stored seed as part of Forestry England’s ex situ conifer conservation work at Bedgebury National Pinetum. The programme focuses on improving germination and propagation techniques while establishing genetically viable backup populations of threatened conifers.

Dan Luscombe, Curator at Forestry England - Bedgebury National Pinetum - said, "The Mulanje cedar is a remarkable and tragic example of how overexploitation can push a species to the brink. The trees being planted originate from preserved seed and represent an important effort to safeguard living genetic material for the future.”

Alasdair Moore, Head of Estate on Tresco, added “This is a wonderful opportunity for Tresco to work with Forestry England to help conserve a critically endangered tree, given the unique nature of our island’s plant collection. It’s also a joyful and positive moment for us all on Tresco to focus on planting trees in the wake of Storm Goretti and restoring our woodland.”

The tree was planted in Tresco Abbey Garden and we will be eagerly watching and waiting to see if it thrives on the island. If successful, the planting could help safeguard living genetic material of this critically endangered tree while raising awareness of global plant conservation efforts. Keep an eye out for it during your next wander about the garden...