History

Looking over a new mixed plantation towards the
Meikle Balloch.

Tarryblake Estate was purchased by my great-grandfather, George Riddoch, from the Duke of Fife in 1890. George Riddoch continued to run the sawmilling business started by his own father George. After the First World War the business was taken over by George's sons, Alec and Willie, who formed the company AG & WJ Riddoch, which grew to become one of the largest timber businesses in Scotland. The company had several forests and sawmills, including at Elgin and Mosstodloch. After Willie died in 1969 the company was sold. Tarryblake Estate has remained in the family, managed by my late uncle Peter until 1999.

We receive consultant forestry advice from Forest Direct, and have been certified under UKWAS and FSC since 2002. Planting of three new woods on arable land has taken place under the Farm Woodlands Premium Scheme (FWPS). The main commercial species are Scots pine and Sitka spruce with some larch and Norway spruce.

Timber has continued to be sold to commercial sawmills, but lower prices forced us to look at value-adding. A WoodMizer LT25 sawmill was purchased in 2001, since upgraded to a hydraulic LT40 model in 2004.

Widespread planting of non-commercial native broadleaf species has also taken place both to beautify the woodlands and to provide biodiversity, thus supporting native flora and fauna.

In 2006, with the assistance of an S11 grant (Developing Farm Woodland Energy) from the Forestry Commission, we have purchased a Heizohack 5-300 chipper from Farm & Forestry Equipment, Ardesier, in order to make woodchips for fuel out of waste timber from both forestry and sawmilling enterprises. These are already being used to fuel a Veto boiler at Tarryblake House, installed by Highland Wood Energy, Fort William, and to supply local businesses.