BREWDOG has announced it has sold its “Lost Forest” after 250,000 of the trees it planted on the Scottish estate died.
The Scottish beer giant’s planting project has been plagued with controversy, and the company made headlines after it emerged that in 2023, around half of the trees planted in the Lost Forest at Kinrara estate, near Aviemore, had died.
The National reported in April this year that in a bid to help keep tree saplings alive by keeping deer out BrewDog erected a perimeter fence, but instead actually trapped the animals inside.
The brewing company promised to create “the biggest-ever” woodland in the Highlands to help the regeneration of Scotland’s ancient forest after acquiring the land for £8.8 million in 2020.
Now the firm's CEO, James Taylor, has announced BrewDog will “pass” on the forest to Oxygen Conservation, a firm based in Essex, which claims to acquire land across the UK in a bid to restore it.
The National understands that BrewDog has sold the Kinrara Estate to Oxygen Conservation.
In a statement, Taylor said: “We want to share an important update on BrewDog's sustainability strategy. Earlier this year, we launched our new ESG strategy, built around a commitment to our communities and a sharper focus on reducing our direct emissions. As part of this shift, we've made the decision to pass on the Kinrara Estate, The Lost Forest, to Oxygen Conservation.
“We are delighted that Oxygen Conservation will be taking Kinrara into its next chapter, as they are experts in restoring and protecting natural capital, with an exceptional track record in delivering projects of this scale.
“Their expertise, and ambition mean the woodland creation and peatland restoration already underway will continue and grow over the coming decade.”
BrewDog first faced criticism when tree planting did not begin until 2022 after receiving a funding grant from Scottish Forestry.
The firm was to receive a total of £2.7 million worth of public money from the Forestry Grant Scheme contract.
Scottish Forestry confirmed £1.1m had already been received by the firm, with a further £1.6m agreed for a second, separate stage of planting.
BrewDog had boasted that 500k trees were planted, but The National revealed in February that more than half of the newly planted Scots pine were dead – with the smaller mixed native broadleaf area suffering a “very high mortality” of 95%.
BrewDog told The National at the time that the dead trees would be replaced.
Taylor added: “The Lost Forest has been an incredible part of our journey. Together, we've restored 745 hectares of peatland and planted more than 375 hectares of new woodland - one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in Scotland. It will always be close to our hearts, and something every one of us should feel proud of.
“Looking ahead, our focus will now be on reducing our environmental footprint at source, across our breweries, bars, and supply chains, and on making a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. Ultimately, this mean doubling down on where we can drive the most direct change.
“This marks a new stage in our sustainability journey: building on what we've achieved, sharpening our focus, and making sure we have the greatest possible impact in the years ahead.”
In the same week BrewDog recorded a £37m loss last year in newly-filed accounts.
It is the fifth successive year the Ellon-based firm has posted a pre-tax losses, with the company last announcing a profit in 2019, losing a staggering £148m in the past five years.
The sale of the Lost Forest also comes after a coalition of land workers staged a demonstration at the forest in protest of “green land grabs” by big corporations.
The Landworkers’ Alliance, a UK-wide grassroots union of farmers, foresters and land-based workers, have claimed that through these green initiatives, large companies have been able to gather a high concentration of land ownership in Scotland.
The group, which has around 280 members in Scotland, said in a statement in July: “In recent years, buying up vast swathes of the Scottish Highlands has become a trend for big multinational corporations. Why? To plant trees for carbon offsetting projects.
“These ‘green land grabs’ are not only greenwashing the dubious activities of big businesses, but they’re also perpetuating the high concentration of land ownership in Scotland, and to make matters worse, the Scottish Government is paying them millions in public money to do it.”
