With around 12,000 acres of Invercauld being managed as woodland, since 2017 the Estate’s forestry department has been measuring the most recent areas where new, naturally regenerating woodland has started to appear. This spring they surpassed the 2,000 acre barrier with an incredible 2,082 acres mapped.
That’s an area equivalent to 1,180 football pitches or nine settlements the size of nearby Ballater!
The predominant tree species are native, particularly Scots pine and birch, whilst others found include willow, alder, aspen and oak.
This has been a tremendous effort made possible by our head forester and gamekeepers, with the support of others including fencers and tenant farmers.
One of the most important aspects of these emerging new woodlands is that whilst they are helping to deliver environmental benefits, this is not happening in the absence of social and economic activities on the same land. It is very important to us that we deliver not just environmental sustainability but socio-economic sustainability as well.
So, for example, these emerging woodlands are in part being created to produce timber to help reduce the country’s reliance on imports, the vast majority of timber used in the UK still coming from abroad. Other activities going on within these emerging woodlands include deer stalking with guests (from both home and abroad), sheep farming, public access for walkers and cyclists and guided tours. These diverse layers of land uses help support one another and, most importantly, the local economy and community, ensuring there is an income stream and workforce to help look after the woodlands over the long term.
See the video on our Youtube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7AX_-F907o