The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital’s Land Management Hub recently undertook an insightful visit to Crofthead, a new woodland creation site, and the James Jones & Sons sawmill. The trip was organised by Dr Eleanor Harris, natural capital researcher and developer at Galbraith and Chair of the hub. It offered a unique, hands-on opportunity to explore the intricacies of woodland creation and timber production — subjects that proved eye-opening for many in the group.

Participants on the visit came from a variety of professional backgrounds, including conservation, law, academia, and public administration. While many were already well-versed in the environmental value of woodland, few had direct experience of managing or creating woodland themselves — and came away with a new appreciation for the complexity and long-term planning it involves.

Crofthead: more than just trees

The first stop was Crofthead, where site manager Andrew Macqueen and landowner Richard Davidson led a comprehensive tour of the diverse new woodland. The site features a mix of conifer and broadleaf species, all of which are being managed with a productive aim: to grow usable wood.

One particularly interesting feature of the site is the experimental mix of Sitka spruce and aspen. Sitka, a commercially valuable timber species, thrives on acidic soils but also makes soil more acidic over time. Aspen, by contrast, has an alkalising effect. Integrating the two may create a more balanced soil environment — though aspen’s timber value is low, often reduced to firewood. Nevertheless, the inclusion of Sitka allows for financial viability across a wider forestry portfolio, as demonstrated onsite by funding a more ecologically diverse woodland.

One aspect which was little discussed was the potential impact planting may have on other land uses, such as agriculture. Whilst most hill ground systems are low-intensity, it does raise the question of whether land can be shared. i.e. could cattle be introduced at year 20, for instance, to help manage ground flora and provide additional income streams?

From forest to product: James Jones & Sons Sawmill

The group then visited the James Jones sawmill, one of the largest timber processors in the UK, where General Manager Rob McKenna provided a guided tour. The scale of operations is staggering: over 150 timber lorries arrive daily, with the mill exclusively processing Sitka spruce.

The timber produced is used in a variety of products — from construction materials and fencing to pallets and wood chip. The chips are either used in biomass or as a raw material for board manufacturing.

This visit also highlighted a key strategic issue: the UK currently produces only about 20% of the timber it uses, making it the second-largest net importer of wood in the world, after China. While increasing domestic timber supply is a priority, it was noted that this must be carefully balanced with food security, ensuring one isn’t sacrificed for the other.

Opening the conversation

One of the most valuable aspects of the visit was the openness of both the landowner and the sawmill in welcoming a broad group of participants — including critical voices — to engage in honest, on-the-ground discussions about the future of forestry and timber. Seeing both the woodland and the processing facility helped bridge the knowledge gap between policy, academia, and practical land management.

As forestry takes on an increasingly vital role in delivering natural capital outcomes — from biodiversity and carbon sequestration to rural economies and material supply — visits like this are essential. They not only deepen understanding but also foster collaboration across sectors to find more sustainable and integrated approaches to land use in Scotland.

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