Balchimmy Plantation, Milton of Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, AB33

An opportunity to acquire a diverse and productive,

young commercial plantation including 44,366 of high integrity Pending Issuance Units (Carbon Credits)

·       Predominantly improved conifer crops

·       Strong projected timber yields across the productive area

·       44,366 carbon credits generated under the Woodland Carbon Code

·       A secure long-term asset combining timber and natural capital income

·       Principal species comprising Norway spruce and Sitka spruce

·        £150,361 of annual grant income secured until 2028

Description

Balchimmy Plantation is a well-established woodland of conifers and mixed broadleaves, planted on quality brown earth and fertile soils. The scheme is set to generate significant volumes of timber through regular thinnings and a final harvest.

Beyond its timber value, the plantation has generated 44,366 high-integrity Pending Issuance Units (PIUs), registered with the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) and valuable for carbon offsetting. The site is classified as 4.1 and 4.2 on the Land Capability for Agriculture scale and rises from approximately 250m to 380m above sea level.

Forest Certification

The woodland is dual certified through Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Carbon

The recently established woodland at Balchimmy represents a significant long-term carbon asset, with the planted trees projected to sequester 55,458 tonnes of CO₂e over 100 years. This is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions associated with more than 4,800 people in the UK.

After applying the Woodland Carbon Code’s required 20% buffer, the project is expected to generate approximately 44,366 verified carbon units available for future use or sale. This assessment is considered conservative, as the Woodland Carbon Code methodology applies capped yield class assumptions and assumes a harvesting date earlier than would typically be expected under good forestry management. The woodland therefore has potential to deliver greater carbon sequestration over its lifetime should growth exceed these conservative assumptions.

The units may be used to offset eligible emissions from personal or corporate activities, supporting net zero commitments, or alternatively monetised through sale to organisations seeking high-quality UK-based carbon credits.

A future owner will have flexibility over the timing and approach to realising this value. The woodland could be managed through a contracted strategy, with Woodland Carbon Units sold at pre-agreed pricing, potentially providing long-term income security through inflation-linked arrangements. Alternatively, a blended approach could be adopted — for example, selling a proportion of credits under forward contracts while retaining the balance for future sale into the open market or for the owner’s own carbon offsetting requirements as demand and pricing evolve.

The UK Government’s legally binding Net Zero target aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels.