Loch Arkaig Landscape Restoration Partnership
The Loch Arkaig catchment, in Lochaber, West Highlands, is home to important remnants of ancient Caledonian pinewood, which in this setting is even more special, as it’s also a part of Scotland’s rainforest.
The remnant pinewoods are fragmented and many are unable to regenerate. So Woodland Trust Scotland and Arkaig Community Forest (who own and manage Loch Arkaig Pine Forest on the south shore of Loch Arkaig) are working with neighbouring landowners to develop and deliver strategies and management plans to share knowledge and experience towards restoring and reconnecting these ancient pinewoods across the whole catchment – an area of over 30,000ha.
The Loch Arkaig Landscape Restoration Partnership aims to demonstrate that partnership working between private, public, community and NGO landowners is not only possible, it is essential for the future of our most precious habitats in Scotland.
Project aims
This ambitious project is making a start using Nature Restoration Fund grant to undertake the following:
Create over 200 hectares of rare transitional mountain woodland
Restore over 100 hectares of peatland edge woodland, through removal of non-native plantations including use of innovative low impact and low emissions freshwater barging
Increase species diversity across almost 80 hectares through use of enrichment planting and direct seeding
Translocate specialist ancient woodland species, such as small cow-wheat and wood ants
Restore ancient woodland in the riparian zone alongside the River Maillie
Remove and manage invasive species such as Rhododendron ponticum and Gaultheria shallon across over 400 hectares
Develop cross-boundary deer management and fencing strategies to manage herbivore impacts across over 1000 hectares, including community deer management and venison processing
This Nature Restoration Fund project is the first phase of a more ambitious vision of wider landscape-scale renewal, currently being developed by Woodland Trust, Forestry and Land Scotland, Achnacarry Estate and Arkaig Community Forest. We hope to increase the scope of the initial project aims to restore habitats over the wider landscape centred on Loch Arkaig.
Project partners
Through the Nature Restoration Fund project, three neighbouring landowners are committed to sharing knowledge, experience, and resources towards restoring and reconnecting these ancient woodlands. The Woodland Trust Scotland, Achnacarry Estate and Arkaig Community Forest will be supported by three delivery partners: Trees for Life, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the James Hutton Institute. Each party brings a unique set of skills, knowledge and expertise to ensure that the project is a success.
We are also working with the Alliance for Scotland Rainforest partners, local communities and volunteers to ensure that this project has a lasting legacy.
Funding requirements
The estimated cost of delivery of this exciting initial programme of work over five years is likely to reach £2 million. This is partly funded by Nature Restoration Fund, but there is still a funding need of £750,000. There is huge drive and commitment for this project and we hope to build on this momentum over the coming years.
For more information contact:
Henry Dobson, Estate Manager – Loch Arkaig
Woodland Trust Scotland
