Cally Estate Community Buyout
The Cally Community Project has been established with support from the Gatehouse Development Initiative to examine the feasibility of a community buyout for the Cally Estate.
A chance to preserve and enhance the amazing scenic beauty and biodiversity of the area, and to create real benefit for the Gatehouse of Fleet community.
Cally Estate
Owned by the Murray Usher family for generations, the Cally Estate, comprising the three farms of Murrayton, Culreoch and Lagg cover some 2780 acres in the Fleet Valley National Scenic Area.
A special mix of flower rich meadows, rivers, woodlands, hills and upland moors surrounding the nationally important Carstramon Wood nature reserve make it a special place rich in fantastic scenery and wildlife.
Concerns
The current owners have put the estate up for sale. It is being marketed through an agency which specialises in forest land sales, and a forest planting plan identifying 1900 acres of potential tree planting (some 70% of the area) has been prepared, so there is a likelihood that it may be purchased for large scale commercial forestry. The agents also suggest “potential for wind and other renewable energy creation” or a highland style shooting estate. Any major change in land use could have a significant impact on the landscape and biodiversity that make it so special.
Benefits of a Community Buyout and next steps
Taking community ownership of the estate could have many benefits for the local community, the landscape and nature - from bringing farming back to the estate to creating a new nature reserve, creating a network of trails, renovating derelict housing and opportunities for rural businesses.
Plans for the estate will be considered in the feasibility stage in consultation with the community.
Take a minute to let us know what you think.
“Retain the blessings given by nature”
— James Murray Usher memorial stone, 2007