A DAIRY farm in Montrose is set to become more environmentally friendly, thanks to a funding package from HSBC.

Alex Colquhoun Ltd, which is 840 acres and has 720 milking cows has purchased ground source heat pumps and a biomass boiler.

The financial package has allowed the farm to build on a number of existing renewable initiatives introduced over the last five years.

Gregor Colquhoun, owner, and grandson of Alex Colquhoun who established the farm after the Second World War, estimates the savings gained from the new purchase will be close to £70,000 per year.

Over the past five years other renewable additions to the farm have included a wind turbine, solar panels and a second biomass boiler, and recent expansion and renovation of the existing sheds.

Colquhoun said: “We were looking to invest and diversify our offering, by becoming more self-sufficient and reducing our carbon impact.”