Strathspey MSP wants to hear more on ‘scale conservation’ firm’s acquisition of Dorback Estate
The MSP for Strathspey has said he will be keen to hear more about plans by a ‘scaling conservation’ firm for its new acquisition by Nethy Bridge.
Oxygen Conservation has bought Dorback Estate, a former shooting estate which extends to more than 45,000 acres.
There has been no wider formal announcement but the Exeter-based company revealed the deal had been completed on its social media.
It stated along with a short video: “We are thrilled to share the latest milestone in our journey to scale conservation.
“Nestled within the breathtaking Cairngorms National Park, spanning over 15,000 acres of moorland, forest, and mountainous terrain we are proud to announce our latest acquisition, Dorback Estate.
“Increasing the size of our portfolio to over 45,000 acres, reflecting our ongoing commitment to scaling conservation across the UK, this extraordinary landscape offers a unique opportunity to advance our goals of environmental restoration and long-term conservation.
“With vast potential for woodland creation, habitat recovery, and sustainable tourism, Dorback Estate will be a key cornerstone of our conservation journey.”
It is the latest estate to be bought by firms which operate in the carbon credit and rewilding market - following on from more high profile ventures notably BrewDog’s ‘Lost Forest’ at Kinrara and Far Ralia put on the market last summer for £12m by abrdn Property Income Trust Limited.
There are concerns that such operations do nothing to support local employment.
Strathspey MSP Fergus Ewing (SNP) told the Strathy: “I will be interested to learn more of the plans they have. It is good that they are retaining all of the staff.
“However, their opposition to what they call ‘commercial forestry’ means that the opportunity to provide material for our vital wood products industry and reduce massive imports is reduced.
“Most favour a mix of usable productive species and broadleaf - and without a steady supply of timber that is essential for house building, the UK will continue to be the second biggest importer of timber in the world after China.
“That makes no sense for the economy or the environment with the massive carbon footprint of importing timber from all over the globe.
“The use of wood in construction supplants concrete and brick and is also better for the environment.
“I hope to put these points to the new owners of the estate as this ‘blanket’ approach to the growing of productive timber, does not seem to me to be the best course, and a balanced mix is surely preferable.”
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Oxygen Conservation claimed the purchase was ‘one of the most significant natural capital acquisitions in the history of the UK’ when the sale was completed last month.
The three-year-old firm now owns 12 estates spanning 43,000 acres across the UK.
The Strathy contacted Oxygen Conservation but received no response.
The website said the company would spend the next year focusing on ‘learning about the estate in depth’.
This will involve ‘conducting detailed surveys, gathering ecological data, and engaging closely with the estate team and local community, whose knowledge of the land is invaluable’.
In a podcast hosted by the company, founder Richard Stockdale said the ‘entire team’ employed on Dorback Estate had decided to stay, including the estate manager, two rangers, a house keeper, an eco-tourism lead and a gardener.
He said the company would cease shooting and any species the team considers non-native would go.
