Nevis Nature Network
Credit Nathan Berrie
In 2023, the Nevis Landscape Partnership launched 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 Scotland.
This iconic landscape attracts about half a million visitors every year with well over 100,000 of those summiting Ben Nevis. This landscape is known for more than just its tall peaks. Spanning 22,000 acres, the Nevis Nature Network 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 nine-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:
Investigate the nature restoration potential
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
What’s happened since?
The Nevis Landscape Partnership are continuing to work with the project partners to support the implementation of the highest priority recommendations.
The landowning partners are committed, in principle, to delivering a fenceless native woodland expansion project through collaborative herbivore management.
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.
Funding requirements
We are now seeking funding to:
Create a collaborative 10-year rainforest restoration strategic plan.
Initiate a collaborative deer reduction cull.
Develop a strategic plan for community engagement.
Remove Rhododendron ponticum from the highest priority areas within the project area.
Investigate the possibility of a wider community Rhodendron ponticum removal project in Fort William town and the wider landscape.
Restore degrading footpaths on designated sites.
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.
