ONE of the world's rarest species of trees will feature in an important tree planting programme has been completed at the new Clyde Coast and Garnock Valley Crematorium.

A total of 1000 native and rare species trees have been carefully planted around the perimeter of the new facility, including various rare species of Willow, Mountain Downy and Dwarf Birch, Juniper, Alder, Holly, Elm and Aspen, alongside the endangered Arran Whitebeam – recognised as being one of the rarest trees in the world.

The management have been working in conjunction with local charity Eadha Enterprises, the country’s leading experts in Aspen conservation and developing mixed woodlands,

The new crematorium sits within the internationally recognised Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park - a landscape acknowledged as being of significant importance - and the specialist ecologists within the Park Management Team and the Forestry Commission have given their backing to the tree planting programme at the new facility.

Over the next couple of years, the crematorium team, working in partnership with Eadha Enterprises, aim to plant at least 3000 native and rare species trees as part of a wider plan of making a contribution towards the Local and UK Biodiversity Action Plan, which is designed to protect and promote native fauna, floral and important local habitats.

Commenting on the tree planting programme, Jeremy Hamilton from the Clyde Coast and Garnock Crematorium said:

“We are very excited about this important native and rare species tree planting project at our new and beautiful crematorium.

“Over time, not only will the tree planting greatly enhance the look and feel of the facility, but ultimately, thanks to the expert guidance of Eadha Enterprises, it will provide a valuable, protected space in which these endangered native trees can grow and thrive.

“We are particularly thankful to have been given the opportunity by Henry Murdo to plant a small number of Arran Whitebeam across the grounds of the facility.

“The Arran Whitebeam is one of the most endangered trees on earth, and we have wonderful views from our panoramic feature window out and across to Arran, and it feels very fitting that we have been able to plant a number of these beautiful and rare trees within the grounds of our new facility, alongside a whole host of other hardy, native tree species.”

Peter Livingstone, Founder of Eadha Enterprises said: “The crematorium site offers an exciting opportunity to create an ecological refuge for rare upland trees and plants, and to demonstrate what the wider Scottish landscape could look like, and on this Eadha and The Clyde Coast and Garnock Valley Crematorium share the same vision.”