The Barholm Woodland Expansion proposal - Creetown and Carsluith, Kirkmabreck
We are the people of Creetown and Carsluith in the parish of Kirkmabreck, Dumfries and Galloway. We have come come together as private citizens to oppose the impending industrial woodland proposal around Barholm - a massive change of use to 1082 acres (438ha) of farmland. These are the wrong trees, in the wrong place.
This land was quietly purchased from local farmers by a London and EU based venture capitalist investment business called Foresight Group. The Foresight Group made a net income of £42.8m in 2026 and have £12.8 billion of assets under management as of 31 March 2025.
These venture capitalists work to create access for international investors to have 'opportunities in the energy transition and natural capital'. The 'natural capital' they have bought is our homeland, a productive and profitable ancient farmland of traditional dyke-enclosed pasture, moorland, peat bogs and semi ancient woodland. This land also has incredible megalithic features such as the Glenquicken standing stones, the ancient ruins of Kirkmabreck Kirk and burial ground, the Standing Stone of Bagbie, the Claughreid stone circle, several moor cist burials, cup and ring rock carvings and the old Kirkmabreck granite quarries that provided the stone to build Liverpool docks.
This purchase also includes all the land around the popular local viewing spot of Cambret Hill mast with panoramic views over much of the Stewartry. There is also a rare chalybeate spring, a burn and private water supplies. There are hills and dales with stunning open views across the Cree estuary, all untouched for hundreds of years. This landscape sets the context for the famous nearby Cairn Holy burial cairns, a 5-7000 year history. Our people are buried here.
The venture capitalists have employed EJD Forestry Ltd to apply for the grants on their behalf, to consult with the public and we assume, manage our complaints as part of their business risk. Over the last 10 years they have delivered 12,355 acres of new woodland for such investors who wish to create carbon credits and profit out of the destruction of productive farmland in Scotland.
So why might a venture capitalist company who operate out of the Shard building in London, buy Scottish land? Tax dodging perhaps? Some may think so. Certainly they are about to apply to the Scottish government for grants funded by us, the taxpayer, to decommission this ancient farm and convert it to a mixed plantation. This imposed and largely non-native woodland will end the current agricultural practices, and change the land use forever. There is currently no mechanism for communities to stop this happening. It poses a great threat to the habitats and wildlife especially breeding and migrating birds, it risks our exceptional archaeology, hides the stunning topography, and promises to acidify the aquifer and soils. Sitka Spruce is also incredibly invasive, likely to spread to neighbouring lands and posing a high fire risk. The planting will cover 72% of the farm and this vast area will be completely deer fenced. The land here is much loved by local people whose ancestors farmed and quarried here for generations. This acidic afforestation is irreversible, and the earth will never recover.
We know D&G must play its part in meeting the climate crisis, but we believe such a massive change in land use undermines our farmers, destroys our culture and feeds only the rich.
August 2026
