The Green Insurance Company at Broadgairhill


Broadgairhill is a hill farm located in the upper Ettrick Valley in the Scottish Borders. Its natural habitat is being restored by its owners, the Oliver Family who wish to  diversify the management of the land by  planting new native broadleaved woodland on approximately 40% of the  farmland. The remaining land will be grazed at low intensity to expand  the existing upland heather cover.

This project will create 155 Ha of new native woodland, comprising upland oak-birch woodland, wet  birchwood & ash woodland. The new planting will also create a link  between two existing areas of young native riparian woodland. This  planting will create a substantial tract of native woodland of high  wildlife and nature conservation value and will make considerable  contributions towards local native woodland expansion targets; and local  Biodiversity Action Plans for woodland types (upland oak-birch &  wet woodland) and woodland species such as black grouse & juniper.

The  planting design follows FC Forestry & Water Guidelines to ensure  biodiversity and enhance water management. Botanical &  archaeological surveys have been carried out identifying existing  features of interest that will incorporated into the open ground  allocation. 25% of the site will remain as open ground to accommodate  wet flushes & burns, deep peat, scree slopes, areas of botanical  interest and landscape features.

The aims of the proposed native  woodland planting are to absorb and store carbon and to create a diverse  native forest habitat network in the headwaters of the Ettrick Water  catchment. A further aim of establishing large areas of native woodland  is to create forested areas of sufficient scale that they will function  as woodland ecosystems and will link to other semi-natural habitats.

There are no public access limitations.

The project underwent Woodland Carbon Code recertification in 2017.

The Green Insurance Company at Broadgairhill

Broadgairhill is a hill farm located in the upper Ettrick Valley in the Scottish Borders. Its natural habitat is being restored by its owners, the Oliver Family who wish to  diversify the management of the land by  planting new native broadleaved woodland on approximately 40% of the  farmland. The remaining land will be grazed at low intensity to expand  the existing upland heather cover.

This project will create 155 Ha of new native woodland, comprising upland oak-birch woodland, wet  birchwood & ash woodland. The new planting will also create a link  between two existing areas of young native riparian woodland. This  planting will create a substantial tract of native woodland of high  wildlife and nature conservation value and will make considerable  contributions towards local native woodland expansion targets; and local  Biodiversity Action Plans for woodland types (upland oak-birch &  wet woodland) and woodland species such as black grouse & juniper.

The  planting design follows FC Forestry & Water Guidelines to ensure  biodiversity and enhance water management. Botanical &  archaeological surveys have been carried out identifying existing  features of interest that will incorporated into the open ground  allocation. 25% of the site will remain as open ground to accommodate  wet flushes & burns, deep peat, scree slopes, areas of botanical  interest and landscape features.

The aims of the proposed native  woodland planting are to absorb and store carbon and to create a diverse  native forest habitat network in the headwaters of the Ettrick Water  catchment. A further aim of establishing large areas of native woodland  is to create forested areas of sufficient scale that they will function  as woodland ecosystems and will link to other semi-natural habitats.

There are no public access limitations.

The project underwent Woodland Carbon Code recertification in 2017.

Species Mix

  • Alder
  • Ash
  • Aspen
  • Birch
  • Cherry
  • Hawthorn
  • Hazel
  • Holly
  • Oak
  • Willow

The Green Insurance Company at Broadgairhill

248,000 trees 155.15 hectares Winter 2012 52,043 tonnes CO2

Project Additional Benefits

Community Water Quality Wildlife