Read the judge's green questionnaire on Alladale

Hugh Fullerton-Smith, the Alladale reserve manager, has a 30-year track record on development projects - including working in Mongolia and with the Sioux Indians in the US.

Both projects involved setting up mobile abattoirs, which prevented wastage and made most efficient use of beef and buffalo.

Now his focus has shifted. He's moved to Scotland to help the transformation of an old shooting estate into what he hopes is a model for his neighbours.

Multimedia

• Gallery: Alladale, Scotland

And, as he says, you're never to old to learn. "I am 62 and have discovered sustainability!" he enthuses.

Ideas and projects spill out of him when I joined him on a tour of the 23,000 estate bought five years ago by Paul Lister, whose family made their money from the MFI chain.

Lister has attracted attention by announcing plans to bring wolves back to the Highlands. The headline-grabbing statement is still a long way off being realised - if it ever is - and has overshadowed the real mission.

Lister and Fullerton-Smith plan to re-wild and re-forest the estate, to 'restore the balance of nature' as their mission statement says. And it means literally dozens of projects running in parallel to achieve that goal.

The biggest project this year is for Alladale to have its own hydro plant. At full production, it will generate 135kw an hour, with a buried cable suppling power to the main house and estate. Electric boilers will heat water from the estate’s own borehole for the central heating.

“There will be a huge reduction in variable costs,“ says Fullerton-Smith. With the estate costing £2,000 a day to run, the hydro will generate savings - and will pay for itself within five years, he adds.

The hydro will also power a sawmill to produce timber for future projects including a riding stable. “For all these projects, we’ve gotten in reclaimed timber from the area and neighbouring estates,” he says, point to a stack of pitch pine cut on the estate. There are no “windfall” trees here blown down in gales, so Alladale buys them in.

The staff have learned to make window frames, only needing to send out for double glazing. The estate also scours salvage yards for steel and has bought a shot blaster to clean up the recycled steel.

Times recommends

• The three best routes to the Med
• How to cash in on your holiday money
• 10 tips for the perfectly packed suitcase