A new community woodland just north of Perth is being created as part of the Denmarkfield Rewilding with support from the Cross Tay Link Road project.
The 43,000 square metre broadleaf woodland creation will cover ground at Denmarkfield, which sits two miles north of the Inveralmond Roundabout.
BAM Nuttall Project Director, William Diver, said: “We are delighted to be helping to deliver this new woodland as one of the many community benefits associated with the wider construction project.”
“All the trees have been sourced through Scottish suppliers and are indigenous to this region, so once established will be sympathetic to vegetation locally in the surrounding area. This is a major rewilding project and a great example of our commitment to providing additional value to local communities as part of the Cross Tay Link Road project.”
The first ground was broken on site by 27 employees from the main contractor for the Cross Tay Link Road, BAM Nuttall, the Friends of Denmarkfield community group and the Denmarkfield Rewilding Project staff.
The volunteers planted more than 600 trees, with BAM Nuttall landscaping contractor GB Landscapes planting a further 4,200 trees across the rewilding project site prior to the end of 2023. The trees and shrubs being planted are a mixture of Oak, Birch, Rowan, Hazel, Aspen, Holly, Wild Cherry, Crab Apple, Dog Rose, Blackthorn and Hawthorn.
Long-term management of the site will be done by the Rewilding Denmarkfield team with Project Manager Ellie Corsie saying: “We are very grateful to the Cross Tay Link Road Project for supporting our rewilding project. With the trees and fencing they have provided we are able to implement our ambitious and unique woodland creation project which will benefit biodiversity and the climate.”
Over 100,000 trees will be planted by BAM to compensate for those removed to make way for the new road, with this representing more than a 100% increase in overall vegetation. They will also be assisting the rewilding team with the creation of a new community allotment space and community orchard.