Two young girls from Aberfeldy handed over a donation of £300 to the conservation charity Trees For Life having earned every penny through their green fingers.
Trees for Life will use the money from sisters Ailsa (9) and Clara (5) to assist with rewilding projects across Scotland.
The ‘Wee Tree Nursery’ came about when their granny Claire Hewitt was helping Ailsa and Clara to learn about seeds and spring during lockdown. They potted up some acorns and were encouraged when they sprouted as trees.
Claire placed a wheelbarrow on the pavement outside her house in Kenmore Street and the girls watched with delight when people took the little trees and left a donation.
“The doorstep stall at 34 Kenmore Street became a place where neighbours connected with us in a very lonely time. It seemed to cheer everybody up,” said Claire, a professional storyteller and nature lover.
Claire’s Tales from the Honeybee Hut story sessions went live on her Facebook page and entertained little ones through lockdown. She added: “We agreed we could find more trees and through handing these on, spread the magic of something small becoming something really big over time.”
Local people kept stopping by the plant stall and Ailsa and Clara went all over the area finding more seedlings to bring along.
When the farmers’ market in Aberfeldy was on in July, the girls put out a call for more plants and shared space on the Tay Valley Timebank stall.
They were a popular choice and the donations jar needed replacing because it was full to the brim. They brought in an extra £68 from the Sunday enterprise, bringing their total to close on £300.
Claire, her husband Robin and the girls went on a trip to the Trees for Life Tree nursery at Dundreggan, Glen Affric.
“Everyone we met there from staff to volunteers were so impressed by our girls’ initiative and loved the ‘big cheque’ we presented that the girls had made,” Claire told the PA.
“It was a really meaningful visit.”
Douglas Gilbert, operations manager at Trees for Life, Dundreggan said: “It’s fantastic to see young people supporting rewilding in the Highlands.
“All of us here at Trees for Life are feeling inspired by Ailsa and Clara’s initiative and their enthusiasm in setting up the Wee Tree Nursery.
“Their generous donation will contribute towards a rewilded Scotland, where nature and people can thrive.”
The doorstep stall in Kenmore Street continues to grow - it is now called ‘The Wee Tree, Flower and Herb Nursery’.
Claire updated the PA saying: “We expanded the name as people keep dropping more plants off so Ailsa and I are going to ask some of her school pals if they want to help.
“And we will continue to raise money for a charity connected to Scottish wildlife.
“It’s important to me that these children are growing up seeing little saplings taking root and then growing up with a respect and love of trees.”
Grandtully Primary, where the girls go to school, encourages pupils to enjoy the outdoors, having most of their lessons outside.
The Grandtully children are involved in the community land project at Duncoillich where they have been assisting the ranger with tree planting.
