Glasgow-headquartered Startline Motor Finance funding Highands 'riverwoods' rewilding scheme

Glasgow-headquartered Startline Motor Finance is revving up its eco credentials by funding a major “riverwoods” rewilding scheme in the Highlands.

Part of the River Enrick included in Startline's rewilding project. Picture: contributed.

The motor finance specialist, which was founded ten years ago, is bankrolling the project that is being undertaken by rewilding charity Trees for Life and covering 23 riverside hectares and involving the planting of more than 8,000 trees. The initiative, which will also include community engagement, is located in Glen Urquhart, to the west of Loch Ness, and includes habitat restoration for salmon and other native fish at risk from rising water temperatures due to a lack of trees to provide vital shade.

Startline chief executive Paul Burgess said: “A key part of our corporate social responsibilities as a company is to enhance the environment, and we are very pleased to be able to help with this project. The Highlands are close to the heart of many staff at Startline, including myself, and the work that Trees for Life carry out is extremely important.”

Trees for Life is a rewilding charity founded in 1993, targeting a revitalised wild forest in the Highlands “providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive”, and having planted more than two million native trees to date.

The charity’s boss Steve Micklewright said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Startline Motor Finance on this significant landscape project. At its heart, Affric Highlands is an ambitious 30-year vision to bring together communities, businesses and landowners to restore woodland, peatland and riverside habitats.

“We believe that common interests can become the basis of a progressive and shared agenda to strengthen the local economy and enrich people’s lives. Startline Motor Finance’s generous, long-term support will be a huge boost for our work and allow us to continue to work towards a better future for nature, the climate and, for people.”

Startline says it serves around half of the UK’s top 50 franchise dealers plus 70 per cent of the top 50 independent car retailers measured by turnover, and comprises more than 2 per cent of the motor finance market by volume. The firm, which has about 200 staff in Glasgow, last year reported a further acceleration in new business, saying the used car market was continuing to be “extremely buoyant”.