Emiel's Food Forest
A Legacy of Life and Learning
Earthself, in partnership with Talladh-a-Bheithe Estates and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), developed Emiel’s Food Forest on 1.3 hectares of land along the shores of Loch Rannoch in Perthshire. Highland Carbon played a key role by connecting project partners and supporting its early development.
This project honours the legacy of Aemilius Justin Matthias van Well, known as Emiel, who deeply valued sustainability and the natural world. Emiel, pictured right, passed away in January 2022 at the age of 26 from an aggressive cancer. This food forest now stands as a living tribute to his passions and dedication to the environment.
Food forests mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in the natural world and have been part of human practice for thousands of years
Once established, they require minimal maintenance and no fertilizers, pesticides, or machinery. Thanks to their diversity, food forests are naturally resilient, making them more resistant to diseases, pests, weather extremes, and climate changes. Additionally, they help mitigate the impacts of climate change by absorbing significant amounts of CO₂ in the soil, roots, and trees, supporting complex relationships that yield vital ecological benefits.
A Partnership to Build Knowledge and Resilience
Our collaboration with UHI Inverness, developed through the Scottish Innovation Voucher Scheme, enabled us to prepare the site, plan the planting, and identify the most appropriate plants for food production. This partnership also allowed us to create an effective design for the demonstration site, contributing invaluable knowledge for future food forest initiatives.
Creating a Student-Led Food Forest Movement Benefiting Local Communities
Sixteen students from five Scottish universities joined us for a transformative tree-planting weekend that included storytelling and personal development. Today, 93% of these students continue their involvement in the project, serving as Food Forest Ambassadors. Their role is to inspire the creation of food forests across universities and local communities, with Emiel’s Food Forest serving as a model for a Nature Positive Scotland.
Driven by Businesses Committed to a Nature Positive Future
The initial costs of this project have been supported by a number of businesses who are first-movers in embedding Nature Positive within their business through engaging with Emiel's Food Forest.
Food Forest Champion: notch.eco
Food Forest Partners: Highland Game, Frinova Woodlands, Bidwells, Falling Leaf Clothing, BMP Europe, Think Partnership, Camu-fin Private Highland Club, Highland Travel, Taiga Upland, RTS Forestry, Britton Scotland
Food Forest Supporter: Own Your Step, Balanced by Nature
Food Forest Logistics Partner: Loch Rannoch Hotel and Estate
Thanks also to the generosity of a number of individuals who made donations and sponsored a tree within Emiel's Food Forest.
Introducing Earthself Initiatives
Due to overwhelming interest in the project, we have established Earthself Initiatives, a non-profit social enterprise, to drive this movement forward and ensure that all work in this area is dedicated to public benefit.
Earthself Initiatives (EI) Aims to:
- Utilise Emiel's Food Forest as a living laboratory that demonstrates the viability of food forests as a nature-based solution, benefiting both local ecosystems and communities around Loch Rannoch.
- Foster a Nature Positive Scotland by inspiring a student-led movement to establish food forests across universities and local communities, with the Rannoch area as a model.
- Engage individuals, communities, and businesses within a 50-mile radius of Emiel’s Food Forest in hands-on learning and community-driven environmental stewardship initiatives, focused on the benefits of food forests and sustainable practices.
If you’re passionate about contributing to Scotland’s Nature Positive future or want to learn more about our work, please reach out using the form in the footer.
New website for Earthself Initiatives coming 2025 – stay tuned to discover how you can help us contribute toward a resilient, Nature Positive Scotland—one food forest at a time.
