Tree Nursery at Marybank – outskirts of Stornoway
The image is courtesy of Derek Hurst who says:
“I am semi retired now but worked in estate/forestry all my career, even setting up a native tree nursery in the outer Hebrides at one time but it was a great success and now everyone is on the regeneration/ rewilding theme.
The photo of me was taken around 1996 when the nursery was part of a millennium project. The nursery and tunnels were located at Marybank, just outside Stornoway and as part of the Stornoway Trust Millennium Project to renovate estate forestry, woodland and pathways for amenity purposes.
The seed was taken from local trees as far as possible and I sourced Scots Pine, Downy Birch, Common Alder, Rowan, Grey and Goat willow locally and I supplemented this supply from places on the mainland such as Shieldaig, Torridon, Loch Maree and Sutherland to keep the provenance as close as possible. I personally collected as much as I could myself but did buy some in to ensure a good supply.
We grew somewhere in the region of 150,000 to 200,000 native trees per year in the tunnels and from the raised open beds, selling the native trees and shrubs to local estates, crofters and other private customers.
When the project finished in 2000 I left and the nursery became more of a garden type but it still operates today on a smaller scale.”
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Groups: Forest Nurseries
I am the current (encumbered) head-gardener in the Lewis castle grounds. I came across the photo of Derek Hurst working in Marybank tree nursery, circa 1996. Good to see evidence of it in its heyday!
If he is available and willing to discuss, I'd really appreciate any information he willing to give regarding his works for the Stornoway Trust Millennium Project. I am particularly intrigued to know if he still has records/ recollection on the locations of notable specimen trees ( like walnut/ Juglans spp.) and provenance of the native plantings.
We are keen to redevelop grounds & tree nursery. Knowing what the previous expert management outlook was would go a long way to help plan for an outstanding resource for all to enjoy.
David. Comment left on 13 March 2026 at 08:02 by Norman Davidson