Growing a lasting legacy for our communities.
In 2025, we opened our Tree Nursery at Growing Well at Tebay Services and launched a pioneering project to support nature recovery in our beautiful county.
Welcome to Treebay
As part of our core horticultural programme, people we support at Growing Well at Tebay Services learn to grow native-breed tree saplings from seed. These saplings will be used to support the creation of native woodlands that will be enjoyed across Cumbria for generations to come.
Our Tree Nursery will produce a minimum of 20,000 saplings per year, all of which are grown by the people we support, and will go on to be planted in our county.
Why grow trees at Tebay?
Montane forests are found on mountains, fells and hills and are characterised by tree species specific to their location and climate.
The Growing Well at Tebay Services site is 200m above sea level, an elevation which is ideal for these young trees to grow and be acclimatised to life at altitude.
Cumbria sits across multiple designated seed zones and in a larger region of provenance for indigenous trees.
By collecting and growing the seeds of appropriate species to the county, we will cultivate between 20,000 and 50,000 native saplings each year.
Tree Accreditation and Biosecurity
While our charitable mission is improving mental health, we take our tree growing seriously. Plant and tree biosecurity is one of the leading causes of concern for the future of the UKs forests, woods and natural landscapes and we want to do our part to protect them.
Growing Well are a registered Professional Plant Operator (CRN 152250) and authorised to issue Plant Passports by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
We have recently obtained certification from the Woodland Trust UK & Ireland Sourced and Grown Assurance Scheme and are currently going through accreditation with Plant Healthy Certification Scheme.
What are we growing?
The tree species we are growing here at Tebay include:
- Silver Birch and Downy Birch
- Common Alder
- English Oak and Sessile Oak
- Juniper
- Hornbeam and Whitebeam
- Willows (various species)
- Hawthorn and Blackthorn
- Holly
- Wild Cherry and Bird Cherry
- Beech
- Hazel
- Wych Elm
- Rowan or Mountain Ash
How do I find out more about supporting Treebay, or purchasing trees?
Please email Growing Well Tebay at [email protected]
Why do we need a native tree nursery in Cumbria?
Native trees grown in Cumbria for planting in Cumbria will be hardier than trees grown in other areas of England, and we are significantly reducing the environmental impact of transporting saplings from outside of Cumbria.
What activities might I be involved in at Treebay?
Seed collection, seed processing, seed planting, caring for saplings, grading saplings, and preparing them for retail.
What will I learn about?
Native trees species and tree cultivation.
What does tree seed collection involve?
Visiting local sites where native trees are growing and collecting seeds to process them for planting.
The Tree Nursery at Growing Well at Tebay Services major funders:
The Tree Nursery at Growing Well at Tebay Services major funders:
