Balmoral Estate policy
Aims
Balmoral is a working Highland Estate which provides for and is closely integrated with the local community. Its management objectives include providing employment and housing and generating economic activity in the local area, as well as the conservation and regeneration of the natural environment. The Estate is owned and funded by Her Majesty The Queen personally rather than as Sovereign.
Economic responsibility
During 2005 an independent consultant was briefed to estimate the economic and social impact that Balmoral Estates, and its ownership by the Royal Family, has on the surrounding area. These employment impacts total approximately 340 full-time equivalent jobs in Upper Deeside or 400 full-time equivalent jobs in Aberdeenshire, which generate household income of over £6,000,000 per year in Upper Deeside or£7,000,000 per year in Aberdeenshire. The 340 full-time equivalent jobs in Upper Deeside (including Aboyne) represent up to 20% of the area’s total employment.
40% of people who completed a questionnaire in 2005 said that visiting Balmoral was the principal reason for their trip to Deeside. 50% of visitors spent at least one night in the area during their trip; staying for an average of almost 4 nights. 81% of people were visiting Balmoral for the first time; illustrating the role of the Estate in bringing new visitors into the area, many of whom will return in the future.
Extra staff are employed during Royal Residencies; Metropolitan Policemen, and soldiers staying in Ballater. Where not locals, these staff spend money locally on food, drinks, accommodation, etc over two and a half months.
Environmental responsibility
The Secretary of State for Scotland’s designation in 1998 of the summit plateau of Lochnagar (around 800 hectares) and Ballochbuie (around 1,600 hectares of ancient woodland) as “Special Protection Areas” under the European Birds Directive and his recommendation to the European Union that Ballochbuie should be designated a “Special Area of Conservation” under the European Habitats Directive, are testimony to The Royal Family’s excellent conservation and environmental husbandry over many decades.
Over 300 hectares of the Caledonian forest is protected by fencing from deer grazing to regenerate the native pine forest, with dense heather, blaeberry and a broad range of pine, birch and rowan saplings. This forest is one of the few remaining areas of native Caledonian pine forest in Scotland.
All the Balmoral Woodlands are Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and managed in accordance with the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS). Our woodland management is explained in greater detail in our Forestry Management Strategy. In 2004 The Woods and Forests at Balmoral were Highly Commended by Judges from The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. The Balmoral Woodlands provide important habitat for the Capercaillie, Scotland ’s largest bird. Good numbers of Black Grouse also inhabit the edges of the woodlands.
The Queen’s Foresters at Balmoral have always had a close working relationship with the Forestry Commission. "The Macaulay Institute has undertaken a great deal of research and monitoring in the Ballochbuie Forest over the past five years.
The Estate is a founder member of the East Grampian Deer Management Group and has recently taken a lead in establishing a deer population model. This model is at the forefront of the Deer Management Commission for Scotland’s programme to manage deer populations and restore heather habitat. The Estate's Deer Management Plan lays out our strategy for managing the Red Deer Population on Balmoral. The Estate is progressing a proposed reforestation scheme in Glen Gelder for conservation reasons. This is currently the subject of an environmental impact assessment by The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.
A Biodiversity Action Plan has been developed to help guide the important conservation work that takes place on the Estate. The heather moors on the Estate support a healthy population of red grouse, mountain hares, ptarmigan, snow bunting, birds of prey and many other montane birds. The heather moor is itself a mosaic of diverse plant communities. For many years the Balmoral Ranger Service has monitored the breeding status of birds of prey on Balmoral Estate. In 2005, an analysis of all the data specific to Balmoral Estates was undertaken to ascertain any trends in the numbers and behaviour of birds of prey over the past twenty years on the Estate'.
The in-hand farm land has qualified as "organic" with the Soil Association and has been accredited under the Department of Agriculture's Organic Farming Scheme. Beef from the Highland Cattle Fold is fattened and sold through the Farm Shop close to Windsor Castle. We are silver holders of the Green Business Tourism Award and members of Wild Scotland.
Ongoing environmental works include regular litter picks conducted around the Estate. All building materials used in building projects are from as benign a source as possible. Estate staff use public transport or share cars when travelling to meetings and where possible estate staff walk or cycle to work.
Social responsibility
The Estate is involved in tourism, forestry, farming, deer stalking, grouse shooting and a range of other activities. The Castle grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public between April and July; other visitor provision including gift shop and cafeteria, pony trekking, exhibitions, visitor centre at Spittal of Glen Muick, footpaths, ranger-guided walks and safaris, holiday cottages and availability of the Queen’s Building for receptions, corporate hires, etc.
The Estate is very important socially within the local area. Its social impacts include:Availability of sporting facilities for use by the local community, including a golf course, cricket
square, salmon and trout fishing, and rifle and clay pigeon shoots
An annual local art exhibition displayed in the cafeteria and Stables
A Grampian Fire Brigade unit based at Balmoral that is staffed by paid volunteers
Training exercises on the Estate by Braemar and Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Teams
A role in sustaining the population of a rural area through offering a range of employment
Staff children representing a quarter of the roll at Crathie Primary School, helping to keep it open
Donations of £18,113 to 43 different charities in and around Deeside in 2004/05
Supporting the Upper Deeside Access Trust in improving walking and other leisure opportunities
Free use of Estate facilities for sponsored walks and many other charitable and voluntary
activities
Support for the local community hall
Committee membership by staff and their families of at least ten local sporting and voluntary
organisations
Involvement of the Estate’s rangers in schools, community groups, etc
Balmoral is a working Highland Estate which provides for and is closely integrated with the local community. Its management objectives include providing employment and housing and generating economic activity in the local area, as well as the conservation and regeneration of the natural environment. The Estate is owned and funded by Her Majesty The Queen personally rather than as Sovereign.
Economic responsibility
During 2005 an independent consultant was briefed to estimate the economic and social impact that Balmoral Estates, and its ownership by the Royal Family, has on the surrounding area. These employment impacts total approximately 340 full-time equivalent jobs in Upper Deeside or 400 full-time equivalent jobs in Aberdeenshire, which generate household income of over £6,000,000 per year in Upper Deeside or£7,000,000 per year in Aberdeenshire. The 340 full-time equivalent jobs in Upper Deeside (including Aboyne) represent up to 20% of the area’s total employment.
40% of people who completed a questionnaire in 2005 said that visiting Balmoral was the principal reason for their trip to Deeside. 50% of visitors spent at least one night in the area during their trip; staying for an average of almost 4 nights. 81% of people were visiting Balmoral for the first time; illustrating the role of the Estate in bringing new visitors into the area, many of whom will return in the future.
Extra staff are employed during Royal Residencies; Metropolitan Policemen, and soldiers staying in Ballater. Where not locals, these staff spend money locally on food, drinks, accommodation, etc over two and a half months.
Environmental responsibility
The Secretary of State for Scotland’s designation in 1998 of the summit plateau of Lochnagar (around 800 hectares) and Ballochbuie (around 1,600 hectares of ancient woodland) as “Special Protection Areas” under the European Birds Directive and his recommendation to the European Union that Ballochbuie should be designated a “Special Area of Conservation” under the European Habitats Directive, are testimony to The Royal Family’s excellent conservation and environmental husbandry over many decades.
Over 300 hectares of the Caledonian forest is protected by fencing from deer grazing to regenerate the native pine forest, with dense heather, blaeberry and a broad range of pine, birch and rowan saplings. This forest is one of the few remaining areas of native Caledonian pine forest in Scotland.
All the Balmoral Woodlands are Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and managed in accordance with the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS). Our woodland management is explained in greater detail in our Forestry Management Strategy. In 2004 The Woods and Forests at Balmoral were Highly Commended by Judges from The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. The Balmoral Woodlands provide important habitat for the Capercaillie, Scotland ’s largest bird. Good numbers of Black Grouse also inhabit the edges of the woodlands.
The Queen’s Foresters at Balmoral have always had a close working relationship with the Forestry Commission. "The Macaulay Institute has undertaken a great deal of research and monitoring in the Ballochbuie Forest over the past five years.
The Estate is a founder member of the East Grampian Deer Management Group and has recently taken a lead in establishing a deer population model. This model is at the forefront of the Deer Management Commission for Scotland’s programme to manage deer populations and restore heather habitat. The Estate's Deer Management Plan lays out our strategy for managing the Red Deer Population on Balmoral. The Estate is progressing a proposed reforestation scheme in Glen Gelder for conservation reasons. This is currently the subject of an environmental impact assessment by The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.
A Biodiversity Action Plan has been developed to help guide the important conservation work that takes place on the Estate. The heather moors on the Estate support a healthy population of red grouse, mountain hares, ptarmigan, snow bunting, birds of prey and many other montane birds. The heather moor is itself a mosaic of diverse plant communities. For many years the Balmoral Ranger Service has monitored the breeding status of birds of prey on Balmoral Estate. In 2005, an analysis of all the data specific to Balmoral Estates was undertaken to ascertain any trends in the numbers and behaviour of birds of prey over the past twenty years on the Estate'.
The in-hand farm land has qualified as "organic" with the Soil Association and has been accredited under the Department of Agriculture's Organic Farming Scheme. Beef from the Highland Cattle Fold is fattened and sold through the Farm Shop close to Windsor Castle. We are silver holders of the Green Business Tourism Award and members of Wild Scotland.
Ongoing environmental works include regular litter picks conducted around the Estate. All building materials used in building projects are from as benign a source as possible. Estate staff use public transport or share cars when travelling to meetings and where possible estate staff walk or cycle to work.
Social responsibility
The Estate is involved in tourism, forestry, farming, deer stalking, grouse shooting and a range of other activities. The Castle grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public between April and July; other visitor provision including gift shop and cafeteria, pony trekking, exhibitions, visitor centre at Spittal of Glen Muick, footpaths, ranger-guided walks and safaris, holiday cottages and availability of the Queen’s Building for receptions, corporate hires, etc.
The Estate is very important socially within the local area. Its social impacts include: