Rare Mulanje Cedar Tree Flown to Tresco for Planting

Rare Tree Airlifted to Tresco After Storm Damage

A critically endangered tree species has been flown to Tresco in a carefully coordinated effort that links global conservation with the island’s recovery following storm damage.

On Monday 16th March, a young Mulanje cedar tree (Widdringtonia whytei) was airlifted to the island by Penzance Helicopters, accompanied by Dan Luscombe from Forestry England’s Bedgebury National Pinetum.

A rare arrival on Tresco

The tree will now be planted by Dan Luscombe alongside Tresco’s garden team, including Head of Estate Alasdair Moore. The planting forms part of a wider programme to restore trees across the island following the impact of Storm Goretti.

The moment also marks the beginning of a new season of planting and regeneration on Tresco.

Because the Mulanje cedar is highly sensitive to frost and cannot tolerate prolonged cold, it cannot be grown in most parts of the UK. Tresco’s mild maritime climate offers one of the few suitable environments where it may survive outdoors.

A species on the brink

Native to Mount Mulanje in Malawi, the Mulanje cedar has faced decades of decline. Once valued for its durable and fragrant timber, the species has been heavily impacted by unsustainable harvesting, illegal logging, fires and land pressure.

In 2018, it became the first tree in Africa to be declared commercially extinct.

There are now no known mature, seed-producing Mulanje cedars remaining in the wild.

Growing from preserved seed

The tree delivered to Tresco has been grown from seed preserved in seed banks in Malawi and the UK. These efforts form part of Forestry England’s ex situ conifer conservation work at Bedgebury National Pinetum.

The programme focuses on improving germination and propagation techniques while creating genetically viable backup populations of threatened conifers.

Dan Luscombe, Curator at Forestry England’s 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.”

A step forward after Storm Goretti

For Tresco, the planting also represents a positive moment following Storm Goretti, which caused damage across the island.

Alasdair Moore, Head of Estate on Tresco, said:
“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.”

If successful, the planting could help protect the future of the species while raising awareness of global plant conservation.

The arrival of the Mulanje cedar stands as a symbol of Tresco’s ongoing recovery and its commitment to restoring and protecting its landscape.