05-05-2025
Scottish rewilding project generates £3 million local investment
Northwood's Rewilding Network, which is made up of dozens of environmental restoration projects across Scotland, surveyed its 91 members.
The results found that the network now covers 10,500 hectares of land.
The project launched in 2021 and has since expanded, prompting £3m of investment in local suppliers, supporting 101 jobs and attracting half a million paying visitors at its rewilding sites.
READ MORE: Owner of uninhabited Scottish island launches rewilding effort
Aidan McCormick who is a rewilding officer from SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, which co-ordinates the network, said: 'This is rewilding in action – delivering real benefits for people, nature and the climate.'
He went on: 'Scotland has the chance to be a world leader in rewilding, and these findings show we're heading in the right direction.'
Northwood's leader, James Naine, added that farmers, crofters and communities have 'come together to create something much bigger.'
The rewilding push aims to address Scotland's status as one of the planet's most nature-depleted countries.
(Image: Peter Cairns) Climate change, deforestation for grouse and pheasant shooting and a lack of natural predators has disrupted the natural flow of its unique ecosystems.
According to SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, which co-ordinates Northwoods, this new report shows the economic and social benefits of rewilding.
Northwoods has planted 327,000 trees and built 289 ponds and 2 kilometres of water courses.
Rewilding efforts have also released 20 beavers into the wild, as well as restoring wildcats to their natural habitats. Research from the University of Southampton has found that beaver dams also benefit fish populations by creating pools which are suitable habitats for brown trout.
Other rare species like the osprey and purple hairstreak butterfly have naturally returned to rewilding sites after their improvements.
