Woodland
Contributing significantly to climate change mitigation through the continued expansion of our Island woodlands.
Our woodlands are well integrated into the fabric of the island and comprise a mixture of coniferous plantation through to ancient semi-natural woodlands or temperate rainforests. The woodland plays an essential role in the landscape and is critical in supporting the broader ecology of the island. The area extends to approximately 3,000 acres and can be categorised into the following:
Of the above, 28% of the woodland is managed primarily for commercial objectives and the remaining 72% for landscape and environmental objectives. The areas planted with conifers are commercial, and the species are predominantly Sitka Spruce with some Larch, Pine, and Fir species. This commercial woodland is primarily used to supply our on-island sawmill, which produces woodchips for biomass, firewood and sawn timber. The mixed broad leaf areas are well dispersed across the island, with core areas including Mount Stuart Gardens, Skeoch & Skippers Wood in Rothesay and the new woodlands at Port Bannatyne, Kilbride and Rullecheddan.
