The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Charities link up in effort to revive estates
Conservation charities have announced a new 30-year partnership to help breathe new life into two Highland estates.
Assynt Foundation will work in tandem with Woodland Trust until 2051 to revitalise Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates in the north-west Highlands.
The partnership aims to create new native woods among a wider mosaic of trees, open moorland and mountains.
A joint management board will oversee the work with the chairmanship alternating between the two charities.
Conservationists say their aim is to increase the productivity of the estates in securing the future of Scotland’s wildlife.
Assynt Foundation chairwoman Claire Belshaw said: “Together we will work to create a diverse and productive landscape of woods, moorland and water.
“This will provide a high-quality backdrop for the Assynt Foundation to realise its rural development ambitions and provide a sustainable source of income.
“This partnership will build on work already done by Assynt Foundation since we purchased the estates in 2005.
“A reduction in deer numbers has already resulted in natural regeneration of some of our native woods and the flowering of dry and wet heaths.
“We want to do more and
we are thrilled to be working with Woodland Trust Scotland for the next 30 years to see new woods planted.”
The Assynt Foundation was established in advance of the landmark community land buy-out of the Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates in 2005, under provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
The 44,400 acres includes the mountains of Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag set among a vast patchwork of rivers and lochans.
Existing ancient woodlands, including remnants of Scotland’s rainforest, will also be restored and expanded over the course of the project.
The woodland creation and environmental projects will be funded by the Forestry Grant Scheme and carbon revenue.
Peter Lowe of Woodland Trust Scotland said: “This is an exciting opportunity to show how we can work with local communities to bring about landscape-scale change.”