We met while living in the community on the Isle of Erraid and after a few years moved to the North of Mull. Arran grew up in Gloucestershire. He has a strong connection to nature through his upbringing and interests, and has explored a lot of Scotland’s more remote areas. Leen is from Belgium and moved to the Isle of Mull to live closer to nature.

We enjoy living here and appreciate the islands unique lifestyle. We came to realise that managing and working a croft is what we want to do together long term, growing and producing products from the land for the local and wider community. In September 2022 we were successful in our application to lease a croft from the North West Mull Community Woodland Company at the Langamull woodland. This opportunity to work a croft is very exciting for us. It weaves together our personal dream with continuing to build relationships with people and organisations in the area.

Leen followed her first basketmaking course in Belgium with Gerda Legrand in 2016. She picked it up again in the winter of 2022 and has learned new techniques from books and followed a course with Karen at Naturally Useful in Forres. Leen has been selling baskets locally and is giving workshops to individuals and groups to pass on the skills she has learned.

Arran has managed gardens of different sizes in Scotland, with every growing season building on previous experience. The growing of fruit and vegetables feels the most rewarding and natural thing that he does. He is looking forward to taking on producing fruit and veg on a larger scale again and to grow produce for the local area and community.