Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has officially taken possession of the keys to its new state-of-the-art glasshouse, marking a major milestone in the multimillion-pound redevelopment of the Newton Nursery near Elgin.

The new 12,000m² glasshouse, roughly the size of two football pitches, is set to revolutionise tree production, with the capacity to grow up to 19 million trees annually. This significant investment will more than double FLS’s tree production capacity, supporting the nation's efforts in forestry and environmental sustainability.

In addition to the glasshouse, the redevelopment includes new office spaces and a modern distribution and operations centre, further enhancing the nursery's capabilities.

The next phase of the project will see FLS's nursery team working to complete the fit-out of the glasshouse and other operational buildings. Nursery operations are set to begin in 2025, with the site expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

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This redevelopment, delivered in collaboration with principal contractor Morgan Sindall Construction and backed by financial support from the Scottish Government, represents the largest single infrastructure investment in FLS's history.

The modern nursery will be a hub for innovation and will harness the benefits of cutting-edge technology such as mechanised tree planting and other process improvements to reduce manual labour inputs.

Energy and resource efficiency has been core to the redevelopment: local Scottish timber has been used in construction of the office building, boreholes will supply water to irrigate the seedlings so there will no new demand on the mains water system, and low energy use technologies have been incorporated into the building design, while solar panels will supplement electricity use.

Ian MacDonald, Senior Operations Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: "Thanks to the close collaborative partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland and the entire project team, we're thrilled to deliver innovative infrastructure that transforms tree production capacity in the area. By working closely with our project stakeholders and supply chain, we've leveraged modern methods of construction to create a facility that supports Scotland's environmental and economic objectives.

"We're very proud to have engaged local social enterprises and community groups throughout this project too, ensuring our construction approach delivers broader benefits beyond the physical build. The Newton Nursery development showcases Morgan Sindall Construction's commitment to collaborative, sustainable infrastructure that creates lasting value for both the environment and local communities."