At Hawkshaw, the vision is to transform rough grazing land into thriving native woodland, designed thoughtfully to integrate trees with the surrounding peatlands, including an area of blanket bog. This new broadleaf woodland, planted on former pasture land, will be managed through a non-intervention approach, allowing natural processes to shape its growth. The project brings a wealth of benefits, from enhancing biodiversity and improving air quality to intercepting rainwater, fostering habitat connectivity, and providing valuable amenity access for local communities.

Special care has been taken in the project’s design to protect historic features like scheduled monuments and unscheduled cairns. An open ground area has been included to buffer the blanket bog, while species-rich areas were left unplanted to maintain local biodiversity. The thoughtful planting of birch around the blanket bog will create a small but significant patch of low-density bog woodland—an increasingly rare habitat in the UK.

The mix of habitats created will not only provide a sanctuary for wildlife but also offer a space for local people to enjoy nature. Moreover, Hawkshaw will contribute to the restoration of native woodland in southern Scotland, helping to generate future seed sources for expansion in this often overlooked landscape.

In terms of GHG impact, Hawkshaw will sequester 11,491 tonnes of CO₂ over 100 years, according to Woodland Carbon Code-validated calculations. Planted in 2020, we’re now inviting businesses and individuals to support this vital project by purchasing the carbon credits it generates, contributing directly to efforts in tackling climate change and reversing biodiversity loss.

See this project on the registry.