HOLCIM UK’s Glensanda Estate and Granite Quarry – Europe’s largest hard rock quarry – has been awarded The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark accreditation in recognition of its commitment to nature‑positive land management.
Set on the north shore of Loch Linnhe near Kingairloch, the Glensanda Estate comprises a range of habitats from native woodland and open ground to bogs and coastal environments. It is capable of producing more than nine million tonnes of granite annually.
The estate is one of 51 Biodiversity Benchmark-accredited sites across the UK. At 2,630.00 hectares, the site is the largest in the country to hold the accreditation.
The award reflects the delivery of Glensanda’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), which sets priorities and targets for 2030. Developed using ecological records and site surveys, the plan focuses on legally protected and priority species and habitats identified under the Scottish Biodiversity List, the Wildlife and Countryside Act, UK and Scottish Biodiversity Action Plans, the RSPB’s Species of Conservation Concern, and the IUCN Red List.
A key focus has been the expansion of native broadleaved woodland, introduced in 2012 and 2024 to support a wider range of species such as the Pearl bordered Fritillary, the Narrow bordered Bee Hawk-moth, and the white spotted sable moth, while also contributing to carbon capture.
Phil Jackson, biodiversity and restoration advisor at Holcim UK, said, “Achieving the Biodiversity Benchmark at Glensanda demonstrates our ongoing commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. Operating within a landscape of high ecological importance brings clear obligations, and this accreditation reflects the considered planning, effective land management and sustained effort underway to safeguard and improve biodiversity alongside our operations.
“Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in habitat enhancement and woodland creation, helping to ensure this distinctive site continues to support a diverse range of species and habitats well into the future.”
The regeneration of the landscape at Glensanda will be supported by recently approved funding for the planting of more than 50 hectares of additional native woodland. Alongside this, active land management measures have been introduced to address grazing pressure from both deer and sheep.
