The Stirling area features in a chain of nature-rich hotspots being created for a new Scotland-wide project.
Argaty Red Kites, Carbeth Home Farm and Little Drumquharn Farm are part of a diverse group of estates, farms, crofts and community-owned land brought together in new rewilding network launched by charity Scotland: The Big Picture.
The Northwoods Rewilding Network will allow more of Scotland’s many smaller landholdings of 50 to 1000 acres to play a bigger role in restoring and connecting rich habitats full of life to boost declining species, tackle climate breakdown, and create new opportunities for rural communities.
The 12 initial land partners include farms, crofts, small estates and a community woodland covering 3500 acres between them. The project hopes to expand to at least 10,000 acres within two years.
“We want to harness the potential of smaller landholdings to come together. We need to scale-up nature restoration while highlighting the economic and social opportunities that rewilding brings for people,” said James Nairne, Northwoods’ project manager.
“Despite their beauty and drama, many of Scotland’s landscapes have been in ecological decline for a very long time, with many species extinct and others once prolific now teetering on the edge. Northwoods will help turn this around.”
Rewilding – the large-scale restoration of nature – goes beyond protecting the fragments of nature now left. It restores vibrant living systems across woodlands, peatlands, wetlands, rivers, and at sea.
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Land partners joining Northwoods will work to an agreed set of principles covering issues such as establishing native woodlands, restoring wetlands, and creating habitat for missing native species.
As well as enabling ecological change on the ground, Northwoods will develop sustainable nature-based business models, focusing on opportunities for local communities.
The 12 initial Northwoods partners are: Argaty Red Kites, Carbeth Home Farm, and Little Drumquharn Farm in Stirlingshire; Ardura Community Forest on the Isle of Mull; Ballinlaggan Farm and Ballintean Farm in the Highlands; Bamff Wildland, Comrie Croft, and Upper Brae of Cultulich Farm in Perthshire; Drumadoon Farm on Arran; and Kinkell Byre in Fife. More details at scotlandbigpicture.com.
