Tree Nursery
One of the projects undertaken by the children in the wildlife garden is a small tree nursery. The Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS)
are partners in the Scottish Forest Alliance (SFA) who are regenerating the native woodlands in the nearby Kinloch hills.
This project involves removing conifer trees, encouraging the regeneration of native trees and planting nearly half a
million new trees locally to create future forests of birch and oak trees.
As part of this project FCS wanted to involve local school children who may in the future use these new forests. Each year the children take part in planting the seeds of hundreds of trees usually hazel and oak trees. Children from Broadford, Kyleakin and Sleat Primary Schools have taken part in this innovative environmental project.
In the spring the children plant acorns and hazel nuts in compost in special plastic modules. These then germinate and grow into small trees by the summer.
After two years the trees are sold back to the FCS or to parents or local crofters and the profit is used for other projects in the garden.
This year the children from the Broadford School Nursery took part in the seed planting and particularly enjoyed getting covered in compost.
Growing oak trees for the Kinloch hills