A natural revolution takes root in Scotland’s countryside as rewilding surges
In just two years, the Northwoods Rewilding Network has expanded to encompass 55 partners across the country, demonstrating impressive ecological and economic benefits.
Initiated by Scotland: The Big Picture, a pioneering rewilding charity, the network has already made significant strides towards its mission. Its most notable accomplishments include:
- the planting of over 108,000 native trees on partners’ landholdings — an area spanning 210 football pitches — with those planted along rivers providing vital shade, shelter, and nutrients to support Scotland’s iconic Atlantic salmon and their food web;
- the creation of 69 new ponds and scrapes, providing 15,000 square meters of wetland habitat;
- the removal of field drains, adding over 8000 square meters of seasonal flooded habitat;
- the restoration of a significant portion of degraded peatland, covering a total of 60 hectares and crucially helping capture carbon and mitigate the impact of flooding and drought;
- a commitment to creating and restoring grassland habitats, covering a total of 276 hectares;
- the addition of 128 semi-wild cattle employed for natural grazing, an effort that has resulted in 17 partners creating or restoring grassland habitat;
- the planting of new hedgerows and the removal of redundant fencing by more than a third of the network’s partners, contributing to the opening up of wildlife highways.
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The potential for rewilding to deliver profound and positive ecological impacts cannot be overstated and the Northwoods Rewilding Network’s successes offer a beacon of hope for ecological restoration efforts across the country, standing as a promising example of what can be achieved through collective effort.
A significant milestone for the network is the over £1 million spent with local suppliers and services, providing a substantial boost to the local economy with 71 full-time jobs created in nature-related enterprises.
James Nairne, Northwoods project lead at Scotland: The Big Picture, emphasised the significance of these accomplishments, stating that they “demonstrate the commitment of our Northwoods partners to deliver benefits for nature and communities.” He added that the most effective way to combat biodiversity loss and climate breakdown is by collaborating with a diverse range of land managers to create nature networks across Scotland.
The initiative’s impact on nature is nothing short of extraordinary, with ospreys, red kites, and white-tailed eagles frequently spotted at over a third of the sites. Otters are also present at over half of the sites, testifying to the flourishing ecosystem and the network’s success in providing crucial habitats for wildlife, with 75% of the network’s partners citing they have observed a shift in vegetation, as natural processes recover — allowing for a mix of species and habitats to flourish.
The rewilding initiative has also seen a surge in tourism, with 236,000 visitors recorded across the network and 137 nature-related visitor events hosted. A further 532 volunteers have engaged with partner projects, indicating a growing interest in nature and conservation efforts.
Partner sites within the network range from farms, crofts, community woodlands, and private estates, and the size of partner sites ranges from 50 to 1,000 acres. Each Northwoods partner tailors rewilding commitments to their site and circumstances — identifying rewilding opportunities, sourcing relevant funding, and showcasing the stories of those who make rewilding work for nature, climate, and people.
Gavin Drummond and Laura Hay, owners of Harestone Moss, a site near Aberdeen previously farmed for livestock, joined the Northwoods Rewilding Network in May 2022. They have found that rewilding is not about turning their backs on other land uses, but creating biodiverse ecosystems alongside other activities. The network’s success is evidence of the commitment of Northwoods partners to deliver benefits for nature and communities.

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