Nevis Nature Network
Credit Nathan Berrie
In 2023, the Nevis Landscape Partnership launched the Nevis Nature Network project. An ambitious nature restoration project with the largest landowners in the Nevis landscape: JAHAMA Highland Estate, John Muir Trust, Glen Nevis Estate and Forestry and Land Scot
This iconic landscape attracts half a million visitors every year with well over one hundred thousand of those summiting the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom, Ben Nevis. This landscape is known for more than just its tall peaks. Spanning 22,000 acres, the project area covers a vast array of native habitats, from ancient rainforest along the River Nevis, up to rare montane scrub on mountain cliffs.
It also includes land with both European and Scottish habitat designations: Ben Nevis Special Area of Conservation, a Caledonian Pinewood Inventory site and the Ben Nevis Special Site of Scientific Interest. These special habitats are home to rare and vulnerable wildlife, such as Atlantic salmon, red squirrels and golden eagles.
Development Phase
From July 2024 a 9-month development phase was launched, funded by: the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund (managed by NatureScot), Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Innovation Fund, The Woodland Trust, Forestry and Land Scotland, JAHAMA Highland Estate, Glen Nevis Estate and Friends of Nevis.
During this development phase Nevis Landscape Partnership engaged area specialists to:
Discover the nature restoration potential of Nevis
Cost, map and rank opportunities for action
Provide advice and support to NLP and the land management decision makers
The development phase revealed that the Nevis Landscape has huge potential for woodland restoration and expansion by natural regeneration. We are located in the heart of Scotland’s temperate rainforest zone, which means that we can restore and expand this internationally important habitat. Collaborative herbivore management could largely unlock this potential.
Rhododendron ponticum is the most abundant invasive non-native species in the project area (present across ~400ha of the project area). It is actively colonising from Fort William town and surrounding landholdings. A wider community removal project would be required to project the landscape long-term.
Rhododendron ponticum. Credit Caz Austen
Future plans
The findings from the development phase were used to inform long-term decision making and land-use change.
We have agreed a 100-year vision:
“A new stronghold for Scotland’s Rainforest has been established in the Nevis landscape.
A thriving woodland network connects riparian woodlands, along the River Nevis, to montane scrub on the upper slopes of Ben Nevis.
Meadows, heathland and wetlands weave through the forest and explode with wildflowers each spring.
The community around Nevis treasure this wild place and want to ensure its ongoing protection.
Visitors from near and far, explore our landscape and marvel at our iconic and rare species, including red squirrels, Atlantic salmon and highland cattle.
Businesses operate sustainably in Glen Nevis and benefit from the natural resources that it provides.”
The partners have committed to:
Reduce herbivore pressures (from deer and sheep) down to levels compatible with landscape-scale woodland regeneration
Remove rhododendron ponticum
Connect the community to local nature and the nature restoration work we are doing
Delivery phase
We began work on the ground in winter 2025. Our biggest achievements were:
Successfully delivery the first season of the collaborative deer cull
Delivered best practice Rhododendron control training to 40 local people – focusing on stem injection
Completing the first ‘sweep’ of Rhododendron ponticum control in Glen Nevis
Engaging local primary school pupils with Rainforest habitats
Engaging hundreds of local people with the Nevis Rainforest through our Creative Rainforest Project, guided walks and volunteer events
Creating the Nevis Rainforest soap in collaboration with The Highland Soap Company (all profits donated to the Nevis Nature Network project)
The Creative Rainforest Project
Engaged a wide range of local people with Scotland’s rainforest through our Creative Rainforest project. An open invitation was sent out to ask if anyone would like to create something Scotland’s Rainforest themed. This was open to all ages and abilities (not exclusive for professional artists). We were overwhelmed by the positive and enthusiastic response. People created paintings, music, poems, stories, tapestries, sculptures and more.
A public showcase event was held at The Highland Soap Company Larder Café in Fort William on the 19/03/2026. We displayed 57 submissions and had over 200 attendees. Physical pieces of art were displayed in the style of a pop-up art gallery. Written and musical creations were shared in a traditional ceilidh style (people were invited up to perform to a supportive audience).
Funding requirements
We are now seeking funding to continue and expand out delivery phase work.
Contact
This project is being managed by the Nevis Nature Networks Project Manager, Ellie Corsie. Any questions or ideas about this exciting project, please email: ellie.corsie@nevislandscape.co.uk OR info@nevislandscape.co.uk.
