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Mountains and the People – Highlands Rewilding & Cultural Engagement Hub
Trust T1
- Climate Zones
- Temperate maritime.
- Regenerative Focus
- Rewilding, peat restoration, cultural conservation.
About this land node
Focuses on rewilding moorlands and mountains while engaging local Highland communities; integrates Gaelic stewardship, regenerative grazing, and climate resilience across rugged terrains.
Overview
- Project Vision
- Restore wild lands and build community resilience through cultural revival.
- Project Purpose
- Promote rewilding, foster community engagement, and conserve biodiversity across the Scottish Highlands through cultural revival and ecological restoration.
- Project Title
- Mountains and the People
- Political Location
- Scotland
Ecology & biodiversity
- Flora & Fauna
- Heather, pines, red deer, golden eagles, otters.
- Keystone species
- Red deer regulate vegetation and seed dispersal.
- Biodiversity context
- Adjacent to Cairngorms National Park, linking Highlands biodiversity.
- Ecological corridors
- Links Cairngorms to Loch Ness.
- Natural boundaries
- Located in River Tay watershed near Cairngorms National Park.
- Ecosystem unity
- Temperate maritime mountains and moorlands supporting heather and pine forests, linking highland ecosystems.
Climate & water
- Climate Zones
- Temperate maritime.
- Rainfall patterns
- Rainfall year-round (~150 mm/month); cold winters.
- Average Rainfall
- 1,500–2,000 mm/year
- Temperature Extremes
- 0°C to 15°C
- Average Temperature
- 8°C average
- Watershed
- River Tay watershed draining to North Sea.
- Aquifers & groundwater
- Sustainable aquifer use and peatland water retention.
- Nearby water bodies
- ≈5 km to River Tay; ≈50 km to North Sea
Land & terrain
- Elevation & slope
- 500–1,000 m; rugged terrain.
- Landforms
- Mountains, moorlands, glens.
- Soil Types
- Peaty soils low in fertility; support rewilding and peatland restoration.
- Soil health
- Low organic matter, improving with peatland restoration.
- Erosion risk
- Moderate erosion risk, mitigated by rewilding vegetation.
- Natural resources
- Water, peat, biodiversity.
- Renewable resource potential
- Solar energy, peatland carbon credits, water harvesting.
People & history
- Land Acknowledgements
- Recognises Gaelic people’s heritage and culture.
- Traditional ecological knowledge
- Gaelic land stewardship and rewilding.
- Human Cultures
- Local Highland communities, Gaelic culture, ecotourists.
- Cultural continuity
- Local Highland communities, eco-tourists, researchers
- Cultural landscapes
- Rewilded moors, community trails, wildlife habitats.
- Recent land history
- Past overgrazing and deforestation now reversed.
Regenerative practice
- Regenerative Focus
- Rewilding, peat restoration, cultural conservation.
- Regenerative Methodologies
- Native planting, controlled grazing, peat rewetting, community conservation.
- Environmental objectives
- Increase native forests, restore peatlands, enhance wildlife.
- Community objectives
- Engage residents, provide education, foster cultural revival.
- Community engagement
- Volunteer programs, eco‑tours, cultural workshops.
- Economic Model
- Donations, eco‑tourism, carbon credits.
Impact
- Expressed Impact
- Rewilded 400 ha, boosted biodiversity by 15%, engaged 500+ locals.
- Key impact metrics
- Ha rewilded, carbon sequestered, community involvement.
Visiting & links
- Nearest urban centres
- ≈50 km from Perth.
- Website
- https://www.ecosystemrestorationcommunities.org/community/mountains-and-the-people-uk/
- Social media
- https://www.instagram.com/ecorestorationcommunities