Scotland's richest man welcomes his new Brewdog neighbours
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Scotland’s richest man has welcomed his new neighbours BrewDog to Strathspey.
Last week the Ellon-based brewery revealed the full plans for its Lost Forest by Aviemore, which will include the planting of millions of native trees and the creation of a hotel, campsite and distillery.
BrewDog has said it intends to start work this summer on its vision for Kinrara Estate having previously announced the scheme to its investors on their blog last year.
But Danish-born clothing billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen joked that he is not going to give up his title as the country’s rewilding champion without a fight.
Mr Povlsen, who is Scotland’s largest landowner, acquired the other 1100-acre part of the Kinrara Estate including Kinrara House in Autumn 2018.
Speaking to Grampian Online/Advertiser's sister paper, The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald, he said: "We look forward to welcoming our new neighbours at Kinrara.
"By the sounds of it they have great plans about doing peatland restoration, creating a new woodland and caring about the nature and the landscape.
"It’s really good news and we welcome the competition to deliver progress, results, benefits and enjoyment for our increasing number of visitors."
Wildland Ltd is Mr Povlsen's Aviemore-based Scottish conservation organisation which is dedicated to a 200 year vision for re-wilding substantial parts of his land holdings.
The company has planted over four million trees and says it has created the conditions to regenerate countless more.
It also operates a number of hospitality venues across the region with all proceeds going back into conservation efforts.
Commenting on the Ellon-based brewery giant's vision, Mr Povlsen added tongue in cheek: "I even hear it’s suppose to become the biggest restoration project in Scotland.
"We will become very disappointed with ourselves if our Cairngorm estate does not stay in front when it comes to caring about our natural world and all its beauty, as we have a reasonable head start and remain ambitious.
"We remain humble, and still have much to learn and a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we want to be ahead and to be the best.
"I say this with a smile on my face, as I’m sure we all at Wildland warmly welcome our new neighbours and their investment into the area."
Mr Povlsen owns Glenfeshie Estate which is regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Cairngorms and is his base when staying in the strath.
His other local estates include Gaick, Lynaberack and Killiehuntly.
BrewDog reveals plans for The Lost Forest by Aviemore
