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The Imrie Family

Hillhead Farm, Torrance near Glasgow

The Imrie family from Torrance near Glasgow gathered together in a hay field with two tractors parked in the background.The Imrie family have farmed at Hillhead farm in Torrance near Glasgow for 4 generations. This family-run farm comprises 400 acres owned, plus 100 acres rented.  It has an altitude of 40m down at Tower Farm, running up to 218m above sea level at the highest point - the trig point on Blairskaith Muir where the new forestry creation scheme will shortly be planted.

The farm has 500 breeding ewes - Scotch Mule, Texel X - lambing in April and producing fat lambs for sale. The farm also has 80 suckler cows with an Aberdeen/ Simmental X calving in spring with calves sold as store @400-450kg.

The woodland creation is a new enterprise for the farm and some discussion was had within the family before it went ahead. They are now at the stage of fencing, cultivating and planting trees on just over 27 Ha. Creating a number benefits of the farm not least an asset for the future.

Download our Case Study: Tips on growing trees from the Imrie Family of Hillhead Farm, near Glasgow

Upcoming Events

Walking and Talking trees with Andy & Debbie Duffus, Mains of Auchriachan, Tomintoul,
Tuesday August 16th, 10am – 1pm

On farm Andrew and Debbie Duffus will introduce us to their farm and will be talking to us about their family's new venture into woodland creation on their 1540 ha tenanted hill farm. We'll discuss the initial thought process, the decision to plant trees, objectives, challenges and benefits to the business e.g. more shelter less feed costs and better productivity. We will also have a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining us to discuss funding and first steps to woodland creation. Please come along and bring your questions. Book your free place here. Find out about the Network, its hosts and useful info here.

Walking and Talking trees with Andrew Adamson of Netherurd Home Farm, Blyth Bridge, near West Linton, Peeblesshire.
Wednesday 24th August, 10am – 1pm

On farm Andrew Adamson will introduce us to Netherurd Home Farm. Talk about how he has integrated trees into his farming business over a number of years; providing shelter for stock and crops along with an alternative income stream. He'll discuss the initial thought processes, the decision to plant trees, objectives, challenges and benefits and why he is planning to plant more trees. We will also have a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining us to discuss funding and steps to woodland creation. As this will be a farmer-led network please come along and bring your questions and ideas to help us guide future event topics. Book your free place here. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Find out about the Network, its hosts and useful info here

Walking and Talking trees with Richard Lockett of Knockbain Farm, Dingwall.
Wednesday, 31st August 10 am – 1pm

Richard Lockett will introduce us to Knockbain Farm, his family’s 200 Ha mixed farm just outside Dingwall. This farm is gradually creating a network of wetlands, hedges, ponds, and expanding native and commercial woodlands. A pedigree herd of Luing cattle run on the farm, mob grazing grasslands and wildflower meadows. The woodlands provide shelter, shade, habitat, timber and wood fuel. We will discuss the farm’s experiences of woodland creation since the 1970’s (good and bad), the importance of woodlands for livestock and new agroforestry plans.  We’ll look at the initial thought process, the decision to plant trees, objectives, challenges and benefits. We will also have a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining us to discuss funding and first steps to woodland creation. Book your free place here. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Find out about the Network, its hosts and useful info here.

Walking and Talking trees with the Barbour Family. Mains of Fincastle, Pitlochry
Tuesday 13th September, 1pm – 4pm

The Barbour family will introduce us to their family farm Mains of Fincastle. A 540 Ha organic beef and sheep hill farm in Perthshire. They will discuss why plant trees, objectives, the process and challenges. How they have successfully integrated trees into their farming business. Providing multiple benefits from shelter and shade, increase in productivity to carbon capture. We will also have a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining us to discuss funding and first steps to woodland creation. Please come along and bring your questions. Book your free place here. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Find out about the Network, its hosts and useful info here

Previous Events

The introductory online event with Hillhead Farm took place on the 17th March 2021.  Key messages for attendees were:

  • Environment - You have to work with what's on the ground - don't try and change it too much or work against it
  • Social - Involve the local community as much as possible in planning - that helps to defuse any potential issues
  • Economic –Take the pressure off the farm by diversifying and spreading the risk;
  • Future benefits – Think about protecting the next generation.  Often the farming calendar doesn’t allow for business owners to plan to far ahead – things pile up and opportunities are missed.  There is so much unpredictability in regards to price of output and inputs, weather, political and environmental shifts, subsidies etc. The grants are available now, there are targets to be met and so this a great opportunity to safeguard the future of the business.

We’ll be revisiting Hillend Farm in the next few months to hear more from the Imrie Family about woodland creation and management on the farm.

For more information on forthcoming events, follow @scotforestry, @RuralMattersSG and @SACFarm4Climate on twitter or find us on Facebook