How the ASR brings people working for Scotland’s rainforest together
An ASR visit to the Kyles of Bute. Credit Jenny Tweedie
The Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest works with many different people and organisations who are helping to restore and protect this incredible habitat. Between them, they hold a vast amount of knowledge, experience and skills, but they’re also scattered around the rainforest zone – and beyond.
One of the big positives of the ASR is that it can bring these people together, though because of the geographic spread (and the wonders of modern technology) most meetings happen online. However, the ASR also hosts regular trips to rainforest sites for people within its network, and these trips bring many benefits.
A lot of the people who drive the work of the ASR behind the scenes spend their days staring at a computer screen. For them, getting outdoors is always welcome, but seeing sites and projects in person also makes a genuine difference to our work. You can’t fully understand the rainforest unless you’ve seen the beauty of it with your own eyes. And of course, you can’t fully appreciate the scale of the work that’s taking place to restore it unless you’ve walked the muddy trails in the rain, seen hillsides swamped by rhododendron bushes, and spent hours trying to identify the seemingly endless range of lichens, liverworts and filmy ferns.
A huge range of people come along on these ASR trips, and with limited places, they’re nearly always over-subscribed. This year, we’ve run visits to Knoydart, Cowal and Assynt, and we’ve mostly been very lucky with the weather! Here’s what people had to say about those trips in their own words.
A stunning view at Knoydart. Credit Julie Stoneman
Knoydart
Julie Stoneman, Saving Scotland’s rainforest programme manager
“I had the great fortune to go to Knoydart with colleagues to learn about community-centric rainforest regeneration from our friends from the Knoydart Foundation and the Knoydart Forest Trust. We learned, exchanged, connected, discussed and reflected in a stunning setting in beautiful spring weather. On the way out, I was finding it hard to justify taking a couple of days out of the office for this trip, but on the way back I felt absolutely convinced about how important it is to get out on the ground, meet people and see things from others’ perspectives.”
Diane Leishman, Our Rainforest Futures Project Development Manager
“We had the chance to meet the team from the Knoydart Foundation who have been managing their local rainforest for over 30 years. It was fantastic trip full of learning, discussion and connections. It was also an inspiration to see what is possible when the community is on board and our rainforest prioritised. Came away from this trip feeling positive, inspired and with new friends and connections who are all focusing on the same goal. Also grateful to whoever organised the weather!”
Cowal
Ian Dow, ACT Rainforest Manager
“It was fantastic to welcome our Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest partners deep into the West Cowal Rainforest Regeneration project this week. We visited an area of threatened Ash and Hazel rainforest to talk about appropriate interventions in order to protect and regenerate this area of rainforest refugia rich in epiphyte diversity and veteran trees!
“After lunch, we visited the Kyles of Bute core area of rainforest where we were welcomed by Fraser Brown, a local farmer interested in using cows to restore the area of rainforest under his care. We then discussed the urgent challenges we face clearing rhododendron at a landscape scale and how with the right level of investment, we can turn this damaging invasive species into a skills, training and employment resource. We ended the day on how we can draw the spark of inspiration and determination from the intricate beauty of the rainforest biodiversity we are so incredibly lucky to have on our doorstep!
“Wonderful day of autumn showers, specklebelly and jelly lichens and a bonus Osprey to cap off the day. Thanks go to all who travelled from far and wide to attend.”
Rhododendron covering a hillside at the Kyles of Bute. Credit Jenny Tweedie
Dom Hall, Future Nature Development Manager – Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
“A picture paints a thousand words. These ones tell of the expertise, passion and drive of a fantastic network of people at the ASR and projects like this one with ACT planning with vision and drive to protect and restore the precious, highly threatened remnants of ancient temperate rainforest.
“Sadly, it also tells the scale of the challenge with rainforest squeezed out and clinging on in the face of encroaching conifer, invasive species and herbivore pressure. We must invest now, for the future and in the future to build thriving communities, enjoying, protecting and restoring this fantastic habitat.”
Assynt
Julie Stoneman, Saving Scotland’s rainforest programme manager
“What a treat to get out to the stunning landscape of Assynt, with inspiring colleagues from the ASR network. Thanks to Elaine MacAskill from The Woodland Trust for explaining the ambitious plans to connect and expand fragments of rainforest across the 18,400ha South Assynt Collaboration Project area with the Assent Foundation. This is one of eleven ASR Focus Projects being carried out up and down the west coast. It's inspirational that so many people are taking on the challenge to regenerate this internationally important habitat – not just for biodiversity and climate, but for, and with, the people who live and work there.”
Assynt. Credit Neil Crookston
Neil Crookston Head of Estate and Programmes Scotland, Woodland Trust
“Really interesting ASR visit to see the Little Assynt Tree Nursery and South Assynt Project. The key message that stood out for me was the direct link between nature recovery and community; we can’t achieve nature-positive outcomes without community, and we can use those same outcomes to deliver community-positive results.
“A lot of great work happening across this part of Scotland’s rainforest – great to see local people, projects, and landscapes all connected through shared purpose and ambition.”
If you’re directly involved in rainforest restoration work and interested in attending an ASR field trip in 2026, make sure you’re signed up to our regular emails to find out when and where they’ll be happening. Contact info@savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk for more information.
