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As part of an ongoing plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045, Argyll and Bute Council has given the green light for a new native woodland in Lochgilphead.
The scheme will see woodland planted across 60 hectares of council-owned land, located mostly around Kilmory. It will be delivered through a partnership between the council and Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT).
Thirty hectares will be delivered through ACT's compensatory planting agreement with Scottish & Southern Electric Networks (SSEN), part of SSEN's project to upgrade overhead lines connecting Inveraray and Lochgilphead. The other 30 hectares will be planted using other public/private support for native woodland planting.
Over the past five years, the council has taken action that has reduced its carbon emissions by 27%. This woodland will deliver more progress towards achieving the national target set for all councils of being a net zero organisation by 2045.
Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of the Council explains: "We want to do more than stop climate change. We want to be proactively climate-friendly. This woodland initiative will off-set our carbon emissions. It will also bring more opportunities for environmentally-friendly communities.
"As part of our partnership with ACT, the project will allow for skills and training, health and wellbeing and biodiversity projects which benefit our people and support our natural assets.
This is another important step towards becoming net zero by 2045."
ACT was set up in 2014 with the support of Argyll and Bute Council, Forestry Commission Scotland (Scottish Forestry), Scottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot) and NHS, to work with the community to make the most of the local environment.
Chairman Ross Lilley said: "ACT is delighted to be able to work in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council to help combat climate change and restore biodiversity whilst realising benefits for our communities. It complements ACT's work on peatland and woodland restoration elsewhere in Argyll."
