There is a large and increasing demand for native trees and shrubs grown from locally collected seed.
However, there are very few local tree nurseries in Powys and Wales producing these local provenance trees.
If you are interested in growing and selling trees, some examples of the basic resources required are listed below, although these are not set in stone:
Skills – Aptitude and enthusiasm are as important as experience of growing plants. Experience of growing trees is not essential, as some advice and training is available from this project.
Land – ¼ acre is probably the minimum area required to start effective commercial production
Time – especially for seed sowing in spring and seed collection in autumn.
Support for growers available from this project:
- Funding. A Nursery Enterprise Fund, which offers awards to finance nursery developments, which increase the capacity of growers to produce local provenance trees.
- Advice to growers on tree growing, provided by a full time Local Provenance Tree Coordinator.
- Training, events, visits and technical advice. Events organised to date include: practical seminars on tree seed collection; visits to Glynllifon Tree Nursery; and to the Forestry Commission Seed Unit at Alice Holt.
- Coordinating the marketing of local provenance trees in Powys, for example: through supporting growers at trade shows; advising agencies involved in planting trees; developing contract growing plans; or developing sales through the internet.
- Support for collaboration between individual growers, for example sourcing supplies in bulk to reduce costs and improve marketing for individual small growers.
Want to know more about growing trees from seed? ~ Visit our Information section for free downloads and details of other useful publications.
For more information on how to set up a tree nursery, to arrange a site visit to assess your proposed nursery site, or to discuss how we can support you, please contact us.
Welsh