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Team behind planned rewilding centre in Highlands welcomes support for concept


By Val Sweeney

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An architect's impression of how the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre will look.
An architect's impression of how the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre will look.

The team behind what is believed will be the world’s first centre dedicated to rewilding has welcomed new research showing strong public support for the concept.

The Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, at Glenmoriston, will showcase the ecological and environmental benefits of letting land return to its natural state.

Led by charity Trees for Life, it was granted planning permission in December and work is due to start in April.

New research by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance shows more than three quarters of Scots support rewilding and Trees for Life, one of the alliance’s 20 partners, has launched a campaign calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation, with a commitment to rewild 30 per cent of the country’s land and sea within a decade.

Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, said: "Our capacity to lead the way and involve more people in rewilding efforts will only increase with the world’s first Rewilding Centre planned for our flagship Dundreggan estate in Glenmoriston. The centre will showcase how rewilding and nature can give people fantastic experiences, create jobs and benefit local communities, while celebrating the wild landscapes of the Highlands and the region’s remarkable wildlife."

He continued: "We have the space, political influence and public backing to become a world leader in saving nature and ourselves."

Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: "It’s past time to reboot our relationship with the natural world, and Scotland can lead the way. By working with nature instead of against it, rewilding can restore life to hills, glens, rivers and seas while tackling climate breakdown and offering fresh opportunities for farming and local economies."

Related story: Highlanders support rewilding of the area


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