I have been involved with the Tree Archive during the last year, a project inspired by the Mull Native Woodland Group who have a community run Tree Nursery in Dervaig. The Archive aims to celebrate trees on the islands of Mull, Iona and neighbouring islands - and the connection between trees and people. Anyone could nominate a tree to the Archive, that is special to them for whatever reason.
Out of this the idea of bringing individuals and their trees together - hosting an event at 'their' tree, and providing Cake (and usually tea too!): Tree + Cake. Last autumn a pilot of 4 events took place, in different places celebrating different trees in different ways. One was at Carsaig and involved a BBQ - and Cake; another was up a hill on the side of Loch Ba - a Holly this time, and more Cake; the third was an old Oak tree in Ardura community owned forest and the last one a solitary Rowan at Garmony.
The Tree + Cake Group have worked over the winter on funding applications (successful) and have arranged a long list of events during the spring and early summer. The Camp out was one of them. Here at Treshnish, to be able to wake early and listen to the dawn chorus.
It was a lovely evening, and we sat by the fire pit until it was well and truly dark before heading to our tents - our view sifting in and out of the mist atmospherically. And we woke to a calm morning and listened to the dawn chorus. Quite magical!
