Saving the Mulanje cedar.
We’re proud to have played a small but important role in the conservation of the Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei), a tree native to Malawi that was on the brink of extinction. The tree has suffered decades of illegal logging and habitat loss, with no known mature, seed‑producing trees, remaining in the wild. New propagation efforts rely on preserved seed stocks, making every successfully grown tree vital to the species’ survival. Air-Pot containers were used at Bedgebury National Pinetum to give the trees the best possible start and guarantee the development of healthy, resilient, root systems.
This Spring one of the trees was successfully planted on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, as part of an international conservation initiative, led by Forestry England and Tresco Estate. Projects like this demonstrate how horticultural innovation and conservation expertise can work together to help safeguard some of the world’s most threatened plant species.