Two large land holdings in the Borders, Blackburn and Hartsgarth, totally 11,390 acres of the Langholm Moor, have been sold.

Current owners, Buccleuch Estates, comfirmed it had concluded missives with Oxygen Conservation – a multi-faceted environmental business – for the sale of the property to take place in March, 2023.

Buccleuch has long stated the strategic aim of reviewing its assets to ensure the business remained sustainable for the future and having taken the decision to sell the Langholm Moor in 2019, began a period of extensive community consultation, in line with the Scottish Land Commission’s good practice protocol.

During this period, two local groups, The Langholm Initiative (TLI) and Newcastleton and District Community Trust (NDCT) came forward noting an interest in separate areas of the Moor. Sales of 760 acres to NDCT and 5200 acres to TLI were completed in the course of 2020 and 2021, respectively, with TLI completing a purchase of an additional 5246 acres in 2022.

With the sales to the communities complete, Buccleuch then had interest from Oxygen Conservation in the remaining area of the moor that it once managed as one huge landholding, which, it said fitted with its commitment to the environment and local communities.

Executive chairman of Buccleuch, Benny Higgins, said: “The fit between Buccleuch and Oxygen Conservation could not be better. Their work on the moor will build upon and enhance the environmental work undertaken over many years by Buccleuch and their aims and objectives complement the work being undertaken on the neighbouring Tarras Valley Nature Reserve.

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“Buccleuch has long held the belief that the discussion around land ownership in Scotland should move from a debate about how much is owned by whom to an understanding of the beneficial impact that land management, delivered at scale, can have on both the environment and local communities. To see this mirrored in the aims and objectives of diverse newer landowners such as Oxygen Conservation and The Langholm Initiative will help to open up this discussion.”

Managing director of Oxygen Conservation, Rich Stockdale, said his team would aspire to demonstrate that scaling conservation can deliver significant positive environmental and social impact, generating a positive economic return as a result of their work, not as its purpose.

Mr Stockdale said: “We look forward to listening and sharing ideas with our new neighbours as we develop a plan for this unique area that builds on the excellent environmental work already delivered by Buccleuch on site, and at the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, to deliver genuine positive environmental and social impact.”