Community turbines bring 100,000 new trees to Western Isles

A scheme set up by a community wind farm charity on the Isle of Lewis will see 100,000 trees planted across the Outer Hebrides by the end of next year, dwarfing national efforts by the UK government.

Scotland’s nature advisers have welcomed the move as a “significant contribution” in the fight to curb climate change.

Point and Sandwick Trust’s Beinn Ghrideag wind farm, built on common grazings land near Stornoway, is the largest community-owned scheme in the UK.

Its three turbines produce 9MW of green energy, enough to power 4,500 homes.

Over its 25-year operational lifespan it will also generate millions of pounds in community benefit for the local area.

The trust set up the Western Isles Croft Woodland Project in 2016, in partnership with the Woodland Trust.

With around £70,000 a year, the scheme will see 100,000 trees planted over four years for a cost of £280,000.

Upwards of 100 schemes of varying size have already been planted across the islands, with more in the pipeline.

More than 50 villages on Lewis, Harris, Barra, South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist have benefited.

Meanwhile, Westminster has set aside £10 million to see 130,000 trees planted across towns and cities in England.

During a visit to the Lewis wind farm, David Maclennan, Argyll and the Outer Hebrides area manager for Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “Small areas of woodland on good ground are exactly what we need to see in the Outer Hebrides – they will, over time, have a positive landscape impact, and by using largely native trees there will be benefits for biodiversity.

“With over 100,000 trees expected to be planted by 2020, that’s a significant contribution – and there is clearly potential to do a lot more.

“As well as the landscape and biodiversity benefits, these new trees will also help to absorb carbon from the atmosphere and contribute to our collective efforts to respond to the climate challenge.”

The wind farm is the brainchild of former local MP Calum Macdonald.

He said: “This shows that community wind farms are in the vanguard of the fight against climate change.”

Beinn Ghrideag has been operational since 2015 and currently produces £900,000 a year in net income for the local community.

Once capital costs have been repaid, it is expected to generate £2 million a year for projects in the Western Isles.