The Ellon-based business first acquired the Kinrara Estate 2020 to help with its net zero credentials. By 2023, it had planted more than 500,000 trees.
Spanning nearly 10,000 acres, the forest, located in Cairngorms National Park, has been sold to investment-led environmentalists Oxygen Conservation.
BrewDog chief operating officer Lauren Carrol said: “Since we became custodians of this magical slice of the Scottish Highlands, we have worked with partners to restore 745 hectares of peatland and planted over 375 hectares of new woodland.
Protecting and investing
“We’re proud of all that has been achieved and of the legacy we leave, but the time is right to hand over the reins to an organisation that specialises in protecting and investing in natural capital.
“Oxygen Conservation will be fantastic stewards of the Kinrara Estate. Their experience in scaling up impact through innovation and community engagement is second to none.”
BrewDog asserted the Lost Forest had never been part of its carbon accounting and that decarbonisation remains a key focus for the firm.
Earlier this month, the pub operator and brewer posted a pre-tax loss of almost £37m after sales slumped.
The results came at a period of significant change for the business, following the departure of co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie.
Ambitious project
Meanwhile, in July, BrewDog also announced plans to shut 10 bars.
However, in its latest trading update, published on Tuesday 30 September, the business posted more positive results and had secured £20m in additional funding from private equity backer TSG.
Commenting on the acquisition of the Lost Forest, Oxygen Conservations CEO Rich Stockdale added: “We’re delighted to be taking forward the next chapter of Kinrara Estate, following BrewDog’s work on ‘The Lost Forest’ – one of Scotland’s most ambitious woodland creation projects.
“They took on a complex, challenging landscape and delivered it to a high standard, from ground preparation to deer fencing and especially the use of locally sourced seed.
“Kinrara offers both scale and ecological improvement opportunities, and we hope to take it into its next chapter whilst continuing the ambitious woodland creation and peatland restoration projects already planned across this landscape.”
