A GROUP of volunteers from an energy company have helped transform an estate in Loch Lomond into a biodiverse woodland.

Five workers from SGN recently carried out a range of tasks on Ardoch Estate to transform the area as part of the company’s Community Action Programme (CAP).

The CAP scheme allows employees at the energy firm to have a day of work each year to volunteer and help an organisation or charity of their choice.

The Ardoch Estate sits on the banks of Loch Lomond and is an exclusive venue providing ‘profit with purpose’.

All profits from the estate are donated to Children’s Hospices across Scotland (CHAS), a charity which supports children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Scotland.

The estate was gifted to CHAS in 2020, by Peter Armitage who founded it in 2006.

Currently, the charity is aiming to make it even more special by converting the site from a low-diversity grazing pasture, into a biodiverse broadleaf woodland, maximising cardon capture and providing a vital habitat for native wildlife.  

Workers from SGN got involved after CHAS pitched the volunteering opportunity to companies Engineering Manager, Bryan Robertson.

After learning about the opportunity, Bryan pulled together a team who then threw themselves into the project by helping plant over 1000 native trees and shrubs.

Bryan said: “For thirty years CHAS has been offering a support service for babies, children and young people with a life-shortening condition and their families, and we were delighted to be able to help with their venture at Ardoch Estate.

“Giving back to the local communities we work in every day is really important to us, and it’s great to know the help we’ve given to CHAS will make a difference to so many struggling families.

“The sun was shining for us during our CAP day which made it even more enjoyable.”

Lara MacDonald, senior corporate partnership executive for CHAS said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the SGN team to Ardoch Estate.

“We were so grateful for their support in helping us plant over 1,000 trees as part of a wider plan to convert the site into a biodiverse broadleaf woodland.

“We look forward to continuing working with SGN employees throughout this year and will be welcoming a team to Robin House in the summer where they will be lending a hand in our incredible six-acre gardens.”