The Green Insurance Company at Overkirkhope - Customer driving emissions

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Validated under the Woodland Carbon Code on 16th February 2012 - project ID 2011/SC/0020 .

The aim of the planting at Overkirkhope is to create some 160 hectares of new native broadleaved woodland in 3 upland valleys and one riparian (riverside) area of the Upper Ettrick area of the Scottish Borders. The three valleys, the Kirkhope Burn, Brockhope Burn and Back Burn, feed into the Ettrick Water, a Special Area of conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest and an important tributary of the River Tweed. A smaller section of 4 hectares on the banks of the Ettrick Water will also be planted.  Very little native woodland exists in the Southern Upland Hills and this planting will create an important semi-natural habitat of considerable wildlife and biodiversity value to species such as black grouse. The majority of the planting will create upland oak and birch woodlands with areas of wet woodlands on the lower, wetter riverside areas. The mix of species to be planted will include oak, ash, birch, alder, rowan, aspen, willow, juniper, blackthorn and hawthorn. This range of species will create diverse woodlands of maximum biodiversity and landscape value. The new planting will be well protected from browsers using deer fences and tree tubes. The overall objective is to try to re-establish part of the Ettrick Forest, the ancient woodland that once covered most of Selkirk, Peebles, part of Edinburgh and upper Clydesdale. The project is in coordination with the activity of the Borders Forest Trust.

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 TGIC staff help out with the planting - March 2011

 

  • Trees planted:

  • 190,400 over 160 hectares

  • When:

  • Two phases, Spring 2010 and Spring 2011

  • CO2 captured:

  • 32,033 tonnes over 100 years

  • Species mix:

  • Oak 35%, Birch 30%, Rowan 8%, Willow 5%, Alder 5%, Holly 4%, Hazel 4%, Aspen 2%, Bird Cherry 2%, Woody shrubs 5%