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landtribe

An Ecosystem Nursery is born. Vale de Prazeres, Portugal.



Atlanta and Gary arrived in central Portugal to check on her collectively owned land in June 2021. After following the river, hunting for the wells in the thick plant growth, we stumbled upon an extraordinary being. One Melissa ‘The Great British Truffle Festival’ Waddingham, there in the thick of the reeds, harvesting some for her garden trellising. We instantly knew we had found a genuine, honest and strong character and have nurtured her valued friendship to this day. We truly admire her tenacity and drive, being alone on her adventure in Portugal and achieving so much in her time there. To top it off she is the founder of the UK’s one and only “The Great British Truffle Festival” and is responsible for directing that with her authentic and abundant knowledge of the subject. A true forager!   


This friendship and working alliance has led to us joining forces to create our first Landtribe Ecosystem Nursery.  We’ll  grow seed from the mother of all Cork Oaks in the area on Melissa’s land. Our intention is to save the Cork Oak forest in the area from invasive species taking hold and to grow more native trees for diversity and to replenish the soils. Gary was fortunate enough to spend many weeks under that mother Cork Oak tree contemplating our Landtribe mission before its launch in March 2024. We’re now yearning to return and start Landtribe’s purposeful endeavor in collaboration with Melissa this Sept 2024. This will see us plot out an Ecosystem Nursery site, amongst other land endeavors, and begin the build of the nursery structure. That will be done at our friends Francisco's amazing rewilding quarry in Fundao.   


Read Mellisa’s fascinating analysis of our collaboration here - you’ll learn a thing or two about truffle orchards and the various native tree species that need our support across Europe.


With ‘The Great British Truffle Festival’ plans going strong Landtribe has secured a stall to promote our land restoration and regenerative farming work. ‘Buy a Clump’ on our website to contribute towards the land fund. When enough funds have been raised to buy more land we will put it into trust for Nature, forever. Rewilding 70% and setting up regenerative farming projects on the remaining 30% to increase local food security.  Get involved and help us create a ‘Route of Fertility’ from Portugal to the UK. 


Melissa's blog

The Great British Truffle Festival


  


 







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