The deforestation of Scotland began in the early 18th century when trees were cut on a massive scale for fuel and buildings. By the 1950s, only about 1% of the original Caledonian Forest remained.

The Affric Highlands is a 30-year rewilding initiative aiming to restore nature in the UK. The project stretches half a million acres of the central Scottish Highlands, making it the UK’s biggest rewilding project. With the help of Trees For Life, ecological restoration work will start next year, with a wide range of wildlife set to benefit, including golden eagles, red squirrels, red grouse, short-eared owls, mountain hares, salmon, trout, ospreys, and otters. There will also be efforts made to save the Scottish wildcat from extinction.

In 2023, Trees for Life will open a rewilding center on the Dundreggan estate (previously a hunting estate). The center will be an education center, with plenty of ways to engage with the local landscape and culture, from hiking the trails and planting native trees to attending events and exhibits that showcase progress.

In the meantime, there are already re-wilded terrains you can visit within the Affric Highlands:

Urquhart Bay – one of the best surviving examples of ancient wet woodland in Europe
RSPB Corrimony nature reserve, a haven for black grouse, Scottish crossbills, golden eagles, and other birds, with a 13.5km nature trail through Caledonian forest and moorland to Loch Comhnard
Affric-Kintail Way, a 44-mile walking route starting in Drumnadrochit, through the heart of Glen Affric to see remarkable lochs, ancient woodlands, and glens

rewilding projects