Glen Ling | Carbon Capture

• A 100 hectare forest of 150,080 trees
• Attadale, Kyle, Highlands. 
• River restoration

From the road to Skye, turning inland at Eilean Donan Castle and following the River Ling deep into the Kyle hills, are clues to an ancient forest. Remnant birches cling to the steep banks of the Allt Loch Innis nan Seangan, surrounded by swathes of purple moor-grass, all that is left by the grazing of the deer. 

Biodiversity

The Glen Ling project is turning this retreat of the trees around. By fencing deer out of the riparian corridor, seedlings which have germinated only to be grazed away will be able to grow and fill out the tree canopy. Ongoing management by the estate, supported by the funds realised through the carbon benefit of the trees, will ensure they remain protected from deer. 

For years, Atlantic salmon in the river have suffered from the erosion of the river banks. They are also at risk from warming waters reducing oxygen levels as the climate warms. By stabilising the soil and creating dappled shade, the restored woodland will protect the salmon and other freshwater fauna, ensuring the Allt Loch Innis nan Seangan remains and clear cool for many years to come. 

The native plant communities of the area have a long history of overgrazing by livestock and nutrient enrichment. This is less beneficial for wild flowers, but creates potential for planting a wide range of trees, where natural regeneration will not reach. Downy birch, Scots pine, rowan, eared willow, oak, alder, hawthorn, hazel and holly will be carefully sited to suit the shade, shelter, and soil depth and moisture. Trees will be planted at a variety of densities to create a mosaic of habitats: clusters on knolls, wider spacing towards the site boundary to feather out to the moorland, with deep peat areas left completely unplanted, with only a few plants of the shrubby eared willow along small burns in areas of mire. 

People 
Despite its remote location, people will also benefit from the forest, as two long-distance paths run across the site from Loch Long, one to Glen Strathfarrar and the other to Attadale. These were in disrepair, and have been restored as part of the scheme. 

The deer fence which is crucial to the forest’s success has been carefully designed through a full landscape analysis to respond to the visual forces of the landscape, and take advantage of the hummocky landform to minimise visual impact. Self-closing pedestrian gates where the path crosses the fence line ensure full public access. 

The result will be that landscape is improved and walkers will be able to enjoy the shelter, visual interest and wildlife of the reforested river in the heart of a wild landscape.

“Let lofty firs, and ashes cool, 
My lowly banks o'erspread, 
And view, deep-bending in the pool, 
Their shadow's wat'ry bed: 
Let fragrant birks, in woodbines drest, 
My craggy cliffs adorn; 
And, for the little songster's nest, 
The close embow'ring thorn.”

Robert Burns, ‘The humble petition of Bruar Water’, 1787. 

Contact 
Galbraith Carbon  
01463 224343 
inverness@galbraithgroup.com

Technical specifications 

Carbon

47,654 PIUs (Promissory Issuance Units) are available to buy now, providing carbon offsetting for the future. These will be converted to WCUs (Woodland Carbon Units) which can be used to offset as follows:

Location

Address. Glen Ling, Attadale, Kyle. IV40 8EB

Lat. Long. 57.345797, -5.427525

Date of Planting

2019

Composition