GMG Energy has announced that it is planting another 10,000 trees at Quintfall Forest towards the east coast south of John O’Groats.
The planting will take place on 400-acres of softwood planted land at the forest, which the timber specialist firm purchased early last year to protect the future supply and increase its resilience to market shocks.
To be overseen by forestry consultant Donald McClelland, he will assemble a team to undertake the planting and will then manage the growth and wellbeing of the crop until maturity after 35 years.
Malcolm Morrison, director of GMG Energy, said, “We are committed to replacing every log of timber that we use in our sawmill, biomass and timber products facility in the Strath of Halladale in Sutherland and this latest tranche of planting maintains that momentum.
“We are also dramatically reducing our reliance on diesel fuels with the recent installation of a solar array of more than 100 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the main production facility at the plant.
“Quintfall is just over 20 miles from our base of operation at Bighouse Farm, so it will not add to the road miles burden and planting there will chime with our wish to invest locally and provide a reliable resource for other local companies.”
The company, which has a turnover in the region of £2 million, has also installed a high-tech preservation tank which will provide treated and stress-tested timber products for local concerns which previously had to source supply from much further afield.
