Earlier this week we were delighted to purchase the iconic Dorback Estate in the Cairngorms National Park. We’ve always believed conservation is about delivering positive environment and social impact and here is our story about the evening we invited the community back to Dorback Estate.
On our first evening at Dorback Estate, less than 24 hours after completing the purchase of one of the most significant natural capital acquisition in history, we had the privilege of introducing ourselves to the local community.
Christian Wroe, the wonderful Estate Manager, began the evening by welcoming everyone and announcing that the estate had been sold. He then invited me to speak on behalf of the new owners, Oxygen Conservation.
Working with local communities is hard – we’ve had some horrible experiences and people can be entitled and sadly sometimes aggressive. However, it remains absolutely the right things to do. At Dorback, it was particularly heartening to find a community that was curious, engaged, and very welcoming.
Bringing People Together
The first thing I did was ask everyone to gather closer, closing the space both physically and emotionally. This gesture was intended to create a sense of togetherness and set the tone for an open and honest conversation.
“I’d like to start with an apology,” I began. “You must think we’re incredibly rude for not reaching out sooner. We are committed to being as transparent as possible and to respecting the wishes of the sellers, which is why today—literally today—is the first opportunity we’ve had to speak with you.”
Introducing Oxygen Conservation
I shared a little about Oxygen Conservation, a company founded just over three years ago with a mission to Scale Conservation through a focus on environment, impact, adventure, and togetherness. Over that time, we’ve acquired 12 estates across the UK, amounting to around 43,000 acres including this being our fourth in Scotland. Each estate is wonderfully unique, and whilst there is an exception to every rule, there are some principles we try and work too.
- We Listen: As long as conversations are polite and respectful, we always listen, though we may not always agree – in fact it is certain that I cannot make everyone in the room happy, all the time.
- Respect for People and Environment: We strive to balance the needs of people and the environment, making decisions that may not please everyone but are in the best interests of the Estate.
- Community Stability: We shared that we have never evicted tenants or raised rents unnecessarily, and we have no intention to do so here.
- The Importance of Jobs: We deeply value our team members and take pride in retaining high-performing individuals. We are pleased to confirm that all members of the Estate Teams have committed to continuing their roles.
- Access and Conservation: We aim to make the environment more accessible, and whilst we will stop bird shooting activities, we will continue to manage deer populations responsibly, and increase tree cover.
I emphasised that our approach is as much about learning as it is about sharing, and on the first day of our ownership of Dorback, we have more questions than answers.
Why Communities Matter
Thriving communities create the foundation for meaningful, lasting environmental change. By engaging openly and honestly, we build trust and foster a sense of shared purpose. Transparency is at the heart of everything we do because we understand that conservation cannot happen in isolation—it must include and benefit the people who live and work in these landscapes.
We recognise that communities bring unique knowledge, perspectives, and ideas that can enrich our efforts. By working together, we hope to create solutions that balance the needs of people and nature, ensuring both can thrive for generations to come.
A Dynamic Q&A Session
The evening included a lively Q&A session – always my favourite part of proceedings.
When asked what we would do for the local community, I playful suggested that we might start by inviting more people into the main house than ever before—an act that seemed to resonate deeply. It was heartening to see that many attendees were meeting each other for the first time, a testament to the value of such gatherings and the potential of what we can achieve together.
Topics ranged from renewable energy (which we aren’t and can’t explore at Dorback) — to agriculture, where we outlined our support for regenerative farming alongside wildlife conservation, but were clear that we’re a conservation first organisation.
We again reassured attendees that our intention was to retain existing jobs and homes, hoping that those who wished to stay would choose to do so. For each question, I highlighted the team member best equipped to address it, underscoring our collaborative approach which continued into the late evening with every team member taking and asking questions of the local community.
A Moment of Connection
One memorable moment was when a key member of the community asked the room to applaud us for our openness, willingness to engage and commitment in prioritise meeting them in personal so early in our ownership.
It was a humbling gesture and a fantastic foundation upon which to build – if you’re reading this, which I hope you are, then thank you!
The Evening’s Atmosphere
The rest of the evening unfolded as a delightful mix of conversation, canapés, and sparkling drinks. It was a festive and meaningful way to connect with the local community.
Reflection
Working with local communities is one of the most challenging aspects of what we do, but it’s also among the most rewarding. It’s not possible to please everyone, nor should we try, but evenings like this remind us why community engagement is so essential to our mission to deliver position environment AND social impact.
As we closed the evening, I was reminded of something simple yet profound: communities thrive on connection; and the seeds of trust we plant today can grow into lasting partnerships tomorrow. At Dorback, we hope to not just build a future for nature—but to build it together.