The Carrifran Wildwood project is a pioneering ecological restoration initiative in the Southern Uplands of Scotland, aiming to re-create a 1,620-acre valley of native woodland as it existed thousands of years ago
. Initiated on January 1, 2000, by the Borders Forest Trust (BFT) and funded by private donations, the project has transformed a degraded, overgrazed glen into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem through massive, volunteer-driven planting and the exclusion of livestock.
Key Aspects of the Work
Tree Planting & Species Diversity: Over 750,000 native trees and shrubs (such as rowan, oak, hazel, and birch) have been planted to replace a "brown desert" with mixed native woodland and, at higher altitudes, montane scrub.
Habitat Restoration & Biodiversity: By removing sheep and goats, the project allowed for the recovery of natural habitats, including blanket bog, fens, and woodlands. This has led to a significant increase in wildlife, including the return of various bird species (wood warblers, ring ouzels, raptors), insects, and increased plant diversity.
Voluntary Effort: The project was launched and supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who raised funds to buy the land and continue to manage it today.
Long-term Vision: The goal is to move from active intervention to a self-willed, functional ecosystem. While intensive planting is complete, current efforts focus on "enrichment planting" (adding more shrub species) and managing deer numbers.
Impact & Expansion
"Wild Heart" Initiative: The success at Carrifran has led to its inclusion in a larger landscape-scale restoration project known as "The Wild Heart of Southern Scotland," which encompasses nearby Corehead & the Devil’s Beef Tub and Talla & Gameshope, totaling over 31 square km.
Educational Resource: The site is used by universities and forestry colleges to study ecological restoration and natural regeneration.
Carbon Sequestration: The growing woodland provides a permanent carbon sink.
The project serves as a model for community-led ecological restoration, demonstrating that degraded landscapes can be restored to high-biodiversity, native woodlands.