GMG Energy backs first ever online “meet the lambs” session North of Scotland

GMG Energy, a leading Highland timber products specialist, has thrown its support behind the Royal Highland Educational Trust’s (RHET) first online “Meet the Lambs” initiative.

This event, targeted at early years schoolchildren across the Highlands and Islands, marks a significant milestone in the RHET’s efforts to educate young minds about agricultural practices.

THE RHET “Year of Sheep” campaign, supported by the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNIC), has developed comprehensive teaching resources for schools.

These resources aim to educate children about food production in Scotland and highlight the critical role farmers play in maintaining the countryside.

From 22 to 26 April, over 6,000 youngsters from 257 schools across the region participated in the online event.

They had the chance to meet lambs from five different farms and ask questions, making it an engaging and educational experience.

Malcolm Morrison, Director of Halladale-based GMG Energy, commented, “As both a sheep farmer and business owner, I wanted to provide financial support to this RHET initiative.

It is important to give our young people an enjoyable opportunity to really understand how the rural community contributes to the welfare of us all.”

Fran Matheson, representing RHET Highland, added, “It is so important we bring the farming story into the classroom and touch on talking points like animal welfare, the sustainable uses of wool, and cover even the questions you just don’t expect from a young audience.

Many of the Year of Sheep Farm Visits in the 2023/2024 school term would not have been possible without the support of our supporters like GMG Energy, NFU Mutual, QMS, and many other agricultural businesses who have given generously and in kind.”

In addition to supporting educational initiatives, GMG Energy has recently invested £150,000 in state-of-the-art sawmill equipment.

This equipment processes larger timber into posts, rail, cladding, and purlins. The company is dedicated to sustainable practices, planting 10,000 new trees annually, a target they exceeded in 2021 by planting around 20,000 trees.

This support and investment highlight GMG Energy’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement, reinforcing its role as a major contributor to the circular economy in the Highlands and the Northern Isles.