Our Family Story
Our Family Story – Nellickal Family
The journey of Nellickal Nursery® is closely intertwined with the story of our family and our deep-rooted love for nature, biodiversity, and ecological restoration.
Anish Nellickal, established Nellickal Nursery on 01 December 1999, in Veliyancode, Ponnani, Malappuram, Kerala, with a mission to create a dedicated space for biodiversity conservation, sustainable gardening practices, and community awareness.
What began as a small plant nursery has now grown into a leading center in Kerala, specializing in:
- Butterfly Garden creation and maintenance
- Tree transplantation and rejuvenation
- Miyawaki forest development
- Aromatic and sensory garden projects
- Medicinal and traditional plant gardens
- Ecological gardening consultancy
- Horticulture therapy initiatives
Today, Nellickal Nursery “Operating from three locations – Veliyancode, Eswaramangalam, and Ponnani – to serve all districts of Kerala.”, providing high-quality plants, ecological gardening services, and professional consultation for individuals, organizations, schools, and government institutions.
On 31 March 2009, Rasitha Nellickal became an integral part of our family. Since then, she has been a constant source of strength, balancing her professional work with her active involvement in Nellickal Nursery.
Rasitha is a teacher by profession, and she also serves as the Marketing and Public Relations Manager of Nellickal Nursery, helping to expand our initiatives through effective communication and community engagement.
In addition, she holds the position of Treasurer for both of our registered nature clubs:
- Plant Village Charitable Society (Reg. No: MPM/CA/765/2017)
- Plant Aqua and Fish Conservation of India (Reg. No: MPM/CA/416/2016)
Her strong management skills and organizational abilities have helped successfully conduct numerous nature awareness programs and ecological projects.
Rasitha’s family home is located in Purathur, Tirur Taluk, Malappuram District, Kerala, which connects our family deeply with two different regions – Ponnani and Tirur – strengthening our community relationships and outreach.
We are blessed with two sons who have grown up surrounded by plants, trees, and nature conservation activities:
* Anuraj Nellickal, our elder son, is now 14 years old.
He has developed a keen interest in nature photography and assists in capturing detailed images of plants, butterflies, and trees during our field visits and documentation projects. His photographs are an important contribution to scientific records and biodiversity documentation.
* Anush Nellickal, our younger son, is 7 years old.
Though he does not yet take photographs on his own, he actively participates in our activities by posing near trees and plants, enjoying every moment in nature, and learning through observation.
As a family, we are deeply committed to biodiversity documentation and open knowledge sharing.
The photographs and data we collect are uploaded to several global and national platforms, including:
* Wikimedia Commons – for free educational use and global research
* iNaturalist – for scientific study and species identification
* India Biodiversity Portal – contributing to India’s ecological database
* and many other platforms dedicated to environmental awareness and conservation.
Both Rasitha and I actively contribute to these platforms, ensuring that our family’s efforts reach a global audience.
This open sharing helps students, researchers, conservationists, and nature lovers access valuable biodiversity information freely.
Our work is not limited to photography and documentation.
We also actively participate in:
- Tree planting drives
- Miyawaki forest creation projects
- Community awareness campaigns
These activities take us across different parts of Kerala and sometimes beyond, strengthening our mission of ecological restoration and environmental conservation.
Today, Nellickal Nursery stands as a testimony to over two decades of hard work, family support, and community participation.
Operating from three locations, we continue to provide services such as:
- Fruit garden design and consultancy
- Butterfly garden development
- Tree transplantation and rejuvenation
- Aromatic and sensory garden projects
- Medicinal and traditional plant gardens
- Horticulture therapy programs
Our story is built on a foundation of family unity.
Rasitha’s contributions in marketing and management help Nellickal Nursery grow every day.
Anuraj’s photography brings fresh, detailed perspectives to our documentation work.
Little Anush adds his unique charm by participating joyfully and posing with plants, making our family memories even more special.
As our journey continues, our mission remains clear:
“To connect people with nature, protect the environment, and preserve biodiversity for future generations.”
We warmly welcome individuals, schools, and communities to be part of this mission – learning, sharing, and growing together for a greener tomorrow.
Our Green Journey – The Influential Leaders Behind the Environmental Mission
The Nellickal Family — Strength, Support & Green Dreams
Inspiration & Guidance Behind the Environmental Journey.
Creative Partner: Delight Design Hub, Ponnani
Design & Photo Editing: Binoj Gopal
Contact: +91 9633666470
Facebook Page – Delight Design Hub
The Nellickal family has been the constant source of strength, motivation, and green vision behind the environmental initiatives led by Tree Doctor Anish Nellickal®. Their collective support and shared dream of a sustainable planet form the foundation of every ecological mission that has taken shape through Nellickal Nursery® and its allied environmental activities in Ponnani, Malappuram, Kerala.
Inspiration & Guidance Behind the Environmental Journey
Pencil Portraits by Artist Rajeesh ptk
(Vadakara, Kozhikode — Contact: +91 9544457351
Facebook Profile: Rajeesh Ptk
Jamaludheen Maranchery – Guiding Light from the Speaker’s Office
Jamaludheen Maranchery, who served as the Personal Assistant to the former Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker and two-term MLA (2011–2021), Shri P. Sreeramakrishnan, is one of the key inspirations behind the environmental mission.
Native Place: Maranchery, Ponnani Taluk, Malappuram District
Designation: Junior Superintendent, Perumpadappu Grama Panchayat
Contact: +91 9846102689
Facebook Profile: Jamaludheen Maranchery
During his tenure at the Speaker’s Office (2011–2021), he played an important role in implementing several eco-friendly initiatives within the Kerala Legislative Assembly ecosystem. Supported by the Speaker’s Office, Tree Doctor Anish Nellickal® actively participated in numerous environmental missions and green restoration projects during this period.
Notable Contributions:
● Tree Transplantation Project – Ponnani:
Revived a fallen Banyan tree (Ficus species) uprooted by storm and wind, using modern transplantation techniques. The tree was successfully relocated and preserved within the Ponnani Mother & Child Hospital campus. The project gained wide appreciation with the support of C. P. Mohamed Kunhi (then Chairman, Ponnani Municipality), municipal officials, daily-wage staff, and local councillors.
● Beautification of the Mother & Child Campus:
Green beautification works were carried out in collaboration with local authorities and the Speaker’s Office.
● Kerala State Civil Service Academy (Sub Centre):
Supported green initiatives led by the late T. Y. Aravindakshan, including tree pruning, garden development, and campus beautification.
Anush Nellickal and Anuraj Nellickal also participated, symbolising the cultivation of environmental awareness at a young age.
● Nila Samgrahalayam, Ponnani:
Tree care, ecological restoration, and greenery enhancement projects were executed under his guidance.
Several of these projects were later documented on Wikipedia, thanks to the encouragement and collaboration of Jamaludheen Maranchery and his team:
C. P. Mohamed Kunhi – A Leader with a Green Vision
C. P. Mohamed Kunhi, who served as the Chairman of Ponnani Municipality during 2015–2020, is widely recognised for his visionary contributions to the environmental development of the region.
Designation: Chairman, Urban Development Committee, Ponnani Municipality
Political Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist) – Area Secretary, District Committee Member
Contact: +91 9946119512
Facebook Page: CP Mohamed Kunhi
(Category: Politician)
Between 2015 and 2020, he worked closely with Jamaludheen Maranchery to support several impactful green missions, including:
Mother & Child Hospital Tree Transplantation Project
Eco-Restoration at Eswaramangalam Cremation Ground (Green Island Project)
Nila Samgrahalayam Green Development Project
All these initiatives were successfully completed with the cooperation of councillors, municipal officers, and daily-wage green-mission teams.
This period is remembered as the Green Golden Era of Ponnani, where people-oriented leadership and environmental commitment came together for a sustainable cause.
Conclusion
The environmental documentation work by Tree Doctor Anish Nellickal® on Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons has played a crucial role in digitally preserving Kerala’s ecological heritage and community-driven restoration stories.
The individuals highlighted here—though politically and socially influential—stood by Anish Nellickal® in uniting public service with environmental service, becoming symbols of dedication, leadership, and collective sustainability.
Recognition & Collaborations – People and Partners Who Empowered the Mission
● Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy, Thrissur – Short-term training mentors & horticulture guides
● Local Farmers & Clients – Community green supporters
● Website designer & developer – Technical support
● Nellickal Nursery staff & volunteers – Ground-level implementers
● Media journalists & Agri magazines – Coverage & awareness
● Friends in Wikimedia Commons, iNaturalist, and Butterfly Circle Kerala
● Social media friends and followers – Motivation and reach
The Heartbeat of the Green Journey
These friendships and collective efforts give life to the green journey.
Each time a sapling is planted and a forest is reborn, it is when humanity embraces nature that life becomes more beautiful and peaceful.