Darroch Nurseries: Planting the right tree in the right place for the right reasons.
This case study highlights how Firstport has supported Darroch Nurseries, Scotland’s only social enterprise dedicated to growing native, local provenance trees. Through funding and strategic support, Firstport has helped Darroch Nurseries make significant strides in environmental conservation and community engagement.
Introduction
Located in West Lothian, Darroch Nurseries is a native tree nursery that collects seeds and grows them into trees, supplying both large-scale reforestation projects and community initiatives. By doing so, the organisation plays a vital role in land regeneration, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and public wellbeing.
About the Founder
Elana Bader is a nature-based solutions specialist with more than 10 years of environmental experience. Prior to incorporating Darroch Nurseries, she worked at NatureScot, supporting £15 million in capital infrastructure projects to create and improve green spaces in Scotland’s urban areas. With a deep passion for environmental sustainability and the skills gained through her professional experience, Elana launched Darroch Nurseries to address the critical need for native trees and make a lasting impact on Scotland’s ecosystems.
Darroch Nurseries is dedicated to addressing the critical shortfall of native tree supply in Scotland. By growing locally sourced trees with minimal environmental impact, the organisation aims to eliminate the risks associated with importing pests, diseases, and non-native genetics.
Key Objectives:
- Sustainable Native Tree Supply: Provide a reliable source of Scottish-grown trees to meet increasing demand.
- Short Supply Chains: Reduce reliance on imported trees, lowering environmental impact.
- Collaboration and Contracts: Partner with organisations like the Woodland Trust and local authorities to support large-scale reforestation efforts.
- Diverse Income Streams: Contract growing, supplying reactive orders, and selling directly to individuals.
- Resilient Growth: Explore innovative solutions, such as growing ash trees resistant to ash dieback.
With ambitious tree-planting targets in Scotland, Darroch Nurseries plays a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, combating climate change, and securing a healthier environment for future generations.
Firstport: The cornerstone of support
From the start, Firstport has played a crucial role in Darroch Nurseries’ journey, providing financial and business support that has been key to building a sustainable social enterprise with a lasting impact on the community.
A. Start It
Firstport’s Start It grant received in September 2022 provided essential early-stage funding, covering incorporation costs such as legal fees, accountancy, and website development. Additionally, it supported operational needs, including seed trays and compost.
With this support, Darroch Nurseries made significant progress:
- Grew over 8,000 native trees by May 2023.
- Established a collaboration with the Woodland Trust for tree supply.
- Expanded its volunteer base, introducing a regular monthly group and ad-hoc support.
- Conducted successful workshops and secured two consulting contracts to enhance financial sustainability.
B. Build It Grant
As Darroch Nurseries grew, financial challenges arose due to the long maturation period of trees (1–2 years). To bridge this gap in May 2023, the organisation received a Build It grant of – £25,000 which helped to meet:
- Founder’s salary, enabling a full-time commitment to expansion.
- Business growth, including scaling production and diversifying offerings.
- Increased community engagement, expanding workshops and volunteer participation.
This funding positioned Darroch Nurseries for long-term sustainability, paving the way for job creation and continued environmental impact.
To sum up
With Firstport’s support, Darroch Nurseries has transitioned from a budding initiative into a thriving enterprise, actively contributing to Scotland’s reforestation goals. By growing local, native trees and engaging communities, the organisation is making a tangible environmental impact while securing a sustainable future.
Your next step
Stay in touch with Darroch Nurseries and support their work by following them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Visit our start-up page to learn how Firstport can support your social enterprise journey.