Scotland’s rainforest and communities benefit from £1.7 million funding

This winter and spring, 10 ASR Focus Projects benefited from the Scottish Government’s Rainforest Restoration Fund. This time-limited fund administered by NatureScot enabled a huge range of activities to take place, including surveys, deer control, rhododendron clearance and community engagement. Projects were also able to buy equipment and build skills to continue work beyond the funding period. All this is helping to support local jobs and strengthen the resilience of west coast communities living alongside Scotland’s temperate rainforest.

> Deer larders and drone surveys

A beginner’s guide to the lichens, mosses and liverworts of Scotland’s rainforest

Do you know your lichens and bryophytes? The technical language that’s often used when talking about some of the rainforest’s most important species can be a bit of a barrier in getting to know them. So we’ve created this simple guide to explain why the rainforest is internationally important for these species, talk you through the science, and help you identify some of the wonderful lichens and bryophytes that you might come across.

> Enter the miniature world of the rainforest

Glow-worms to global news

Argyll Countryside Trust has once again achieved some amazing coverage for its species recording work in West Cowal! It featured across the BBC, as well as on STV, the Times and local papers, and then went viral and was picked up by news outlets around the world. This is the second time the project has created a publicity bump for Scotland’s rainforest, and it’s a well-earned spotlight for both ACT and their incredible volunteers. You can find out how the story unfolded through their blog below.

> Go behind the scenes

The other invasive non-native species threatening Scotland’s rainforest

When we talk about the threat of invasive non-native species in Scotland’s rainforest, we usually focus on Rhododendron ponticum. That’s because it’s found across huge areas of rainforest habitat and therefore poses the biggest threat. But there are plenty of other non-native invasive plants and animals that are waiting in the wings to cause serious problems in these special woodlands. Find out more about them in our blog.

> Beyond rhododendron

Understanding a pernicious non-native invasive species

Meanwhile, efforts to tackle the Rhododendron ponticum growing in Scotland’s rainforest are continuing. Here’s a great new video from Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum ranking current control methods, and looking at the best ways to tackle this plant going forwards.

> Watch the film

Helping Scotland’s rainforest thrive

Nathan Berrie shines the spotlight on how NatureScot is supporting a growing network of projects and initiatives to reduce deer grazing pressure across rainforest landscapes in partnership with the people who live and work there. This work is helping rainforest thrive as well as supporting jobs, communities, and wellbeing across the west coast.

> Read the blog

Halo thinning: shedding light on ancient woodland and rainforest restoration

During WWI, large areas of west Scotland’s ancient oak and birch woods were felled for timber. At the time, people didn’t appreciate their importance, and many were later re-planted with commercial trees. Today we call these Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites, and there are around 15,000 hectares within Scotland’s rainforest zone. But Forestry and Land Scotland has been working on methods to restore some of their remaining rainforest biodiversity.  

> Letting in the light

Five ‘accessible’ woodlands in Scotland’s rainforest

There are loads of great woodlands to visit in Scotland’s rainforest, but when you have mobility issues, their steep steps, slippery slopes and thick ground cover can cause some access problems. So for those who struggle with a scramble, we’ve selected five rainforest sites where the trails are just a little bit flatter.

> Exploring the rainforest

Grazing for nature recovery in Scotland’s rainforest

This June, members of the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest gathered at Ardtornish on Morvern to explore innovative approaches to landscape-scale recovery through site visits and conversations. The day centred on the idea of allowing domesticated animals to graze in Scotland’s rainforest, finding just the right balance for the land and its biodiversity.

> Getting grazing right

Find out more at www.savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk