Growing Economic Value from Forestry in the Scottish Borders
By Sam Guthrie, Forest Manager, Bell Ingram
One of the biggest barriers to economic growth in rural Scotland is not a lack of ambition, but the practical challenge of how to unlock value from land that is difficult to access, manage or develop using conventional methods.
At Talla Reservoir in the Scottish Borders, we are seeing how innovation can fundamentally change that equation.
Working with Scottish Water and delivery partners, our Forestry team at Bell Ingram has helped increase the stocking of an existing native woodland created using heavy-lift drones, with permission to operate beyond visual line of sight. Using drone and seed pelletisation technology, 2.1 million native tree seeds have been dispersed across steep, inaccessible ground – land that would otherwise have taken centuries to colonise with trees.
From an economic perspective, the significance of this approach cannot be overstated. Traditional planting methods on terrain like this are slow, labour-intensive and expensive. By contrast, drone seeding allows large areas to be treated efficiently, safely and at scale, reducing costs while accelerating delivery. It opens up a viable route to productive land use where previously there were few realistic options.
The wider Talla Water Woods project is expected to cover over 80 hectares, combining upland and montane scrub planting, with the ecotones blended between. Beyond the clear environmental benefits, the project is designed to deliver long-term economic value by improving land resilience, protecting critical water infrastructure and reducing the energy and cost associated with water treatment during extreme rainfall events.
In practical terms, stabilising soils within the catchment helps reduce the volume of organic material entering the reservoir, making treatment simpler and more efficient. That represents a direct operational saving – and a strong example of how well-planned woodland establishment can support core business objectives.
What is particularly exciting about projects like this is their wider potential. As land and forest managers and advisors, we are increasingly being asked to help clients balance commercial performance with climate, biodiversity and community expectations. Innovative solutions such as drone-enabled woodland establishment offer a way to do exactly that – turning challenging landscapes into assets that deliver multiple, long-term returns.
At Bell Ingram, our role is to help landowners and organisations navigate that complexity: aligning new technologies with sound forestry practice, robust governance and a clear understanding of long-term land value. Talla demonstrates that economic growth in rural Scotland does not have to come at the expense of environmental stewardship – in many cases, the two go hand in hand.
As pressures on land continue to evolve, the ability to think differently about how land is used, managed and invested in will be critical. For me, projects like Talla Water Woods show that innovation is not just about new technology – it’s about creating smarter, more resilient rural economies that are fit for the future.
Article posted on 30/03/2026
