Calum MacLeod

Following a community fundraising of £2.2 million in the summer, the Langholm Initiative has doubled the size of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve in Dumfries and Galloway, with the buyout of the northern parcel of land from Buccleuch Estates.

Created by community group the Langholm Initiative, the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve is one of the most ambitious projects of a generation, and was set up to help tackle climate change, nature restoration and preservation, and support community regeneration.

It was created last year after the community group’s first stage fundraising of £3.8m was used to acquire 5,200 from the same landowner.

A team of agriculture and rural affairs specialists from Harper Macleod, led by partner Calum MacLeod, advised on all aspects of the successful community buyout. Calum and the team also supported the Langholm Initiative on the first part of the buyout which completed in March 2021.

Mr MacLeod said: “It has been a privilege to support the Langholm Initiative team, whose vision to transform and protect Scotland’s natural capital, is a blueprint for community groups all over the country.

“Community groups are at the heart of land stewardship and management in Scotland. They play a vital role in understanding what is important at a local level, and can harness the expertise and resource to ensure our natural capital benefits everyone.”

Angela Williams, development manager at the Langholm Initiative, said: “We are really pleased to have completed the purchase of the Northern Estate. In addition to everyone who contributed to the fundraising, we also get a huge amount of support from our professional advisors who go above and beyond. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our legal advisors, Harper Macleod, for all their support over both our land purchases.”