Walk & Talk: Baddinsgill Estate- promoting the integration of farming and forestry

Baddinsgill is a hill and shooting estate in the southern Pentland Hills, south of Edinburgh. 4,000 acres of heather-covered hills are populated by 900 Blackface breeding ewes, along with a small fold of Highland Cattle. The Marshall family has farmed Baddinsgill since 1912 and it remains very much a family-run business today. 

Forestry at Baddinsgill

The extensive planting of the 1950s has been built upon by the family with a multi-generational interest in planting creating a diverse range of different tree species and maintaining varied habitats within the landscape. This has made Baddinsgill an exemplar in woodland management, which was recognised when they won the Whole Farm Woodlands Award at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards in 2024. 

The estate has 93ha of varied woodlands, which fulfil a multitude of uses including:

• sporting use
• shelter for livestock
• provision of commercial timber
• provision of timber products and wood fuel
• wildlife and nature conservation
• visual enhancement.

The event will focus on five main areas.

1. Policy Woodland around the house, managed on a continuous cover basis.

2. Shelterbelts, where thought has been given to continuity of shelter, through the rotations.

3. Productive woodland, how to manage for maximum return and minimum ground damage.

4. Cleuch planting for biodiversity.

5. Continuous cover, where access is “challenging”.

Highlights

• The benefits of using low impact machinery – for harvesting and extraction, showing how these have been used on peat with zero damage.

• The design and implementation of new woodland, with emphasis on ground preparation techniques.

• When and how to use continuous cover.

• The use of rhizocore pellets as an alternative to fertiliser.

• Looking at woodland management for ecological diversity. (Cleuch planting).

• Thoughts on public consultation.

• Other benefits of woodland – sporting, heating, access.

The ethos at Baddinsgill is very much the integration of farming and forestry, with a firm belief that neither should be looked at in isolation and each should co-exist with and complement the other. This approach will be explored during the event. 

A more detailed agenda will be uploaded shortly.

Additional event information

Arrival: Participants will meet at Baddinsgill House, EH46 7HL.

Tea and coffee will be available on arrival. The Walk & Talk will open with an introduction to Baddinsgill and the main business activities from Gavin and Nick Marshall. 

Other information

Since part of this event will take place outdoors, please bring suitable clothing and footwear.

Booking information

Booking is essential. To secure your place please book online today.