Location

The Project is located west of Gleneagles village, east of the Trossachs National Park and between the cities of Dunblane and Perth.

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Description

The Blackford Forest Compartments project comprises planting sections 61,76, 86 and 87. This project complements a large, earlier planting scheme (48k tCO2e) that has already been sold. It also complements a further scheme with validation pending, known as Harperstone.

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The project incorporates four new woods comprising 31.73 Hectares and all located within five kilometres of each other. Its offsetting capacity is 5,230 tCO2e. The project duration is 55 years, which delivers a good portion of the offsets for Net Zero 2046.

Design

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The planting scheme is one of predominant conifers for rapid carbon sequestration. There are also riparian broadleaf sections at low elevation to help to reduce silting into burns/streams. The management regime for the conifer section is one of mainly thinning and selective clearfell that is to be replaced with fresh planting.

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The majority of the once vast Caledonian Forest, that existed in the Highlands for millennia, was coniferous. Native conifers play an important role in carbon sequestration as their growth rate is greater than deciduous trees. Of course, these pine habitats would have been home to Red squirrels, Pine martens, Scottish wildcats and the Eurasian lynx. Pine trees serve as nesting platforms for raptors such as osprey, Golden eagles, Sea eagles and goshawks.

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To maximise the carbon yield of the project, part of the site will be sustainably cut and replanted. Some areas will yield timber, a sustainable resource which avoids the significant carbon emissions of steel and other materials. Timber projects which exist for construction lock-up carbon permanently as the material is incorporated into buildings and furniture.

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Sustainable Development Goals

Of course, the project achieves SDGs for Life on Land, Life Under Water, Climate Impact and Partnership for the Goals. However, it achieves SDGs above and beyond these impacts. An important aspect of the project is the enhancement of water quality.

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The estate is undertaking planting of native broadleaves along burns in order to enhance water quality for the community drinking source in Blackford and in support of community economic development. Two important businesses draw water from the community source including Highland Spring and the Tullibardine Scotch distillery.

 

The Estate also supplies hydroelectric power to the local school for free, and it permits school visits to the estate for purposes of environmental and historical learning. So doing, it achieves SDGs for Sustainable, Affordable Clean Energy and Education.   Public access is available across the estate achieving Good Health & Wellbeing for locals and visitors alike.