Reconstructing a Prehistoric Scottish Woodland

Volunteer planters and Boundary Wardens are invited to join the new
Carrifran Wildwood Google Group
 

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN THE SOUTHERN UPLANDS OF SCOTLAND

Borders Forest Trust in association with the John Muir Trust

Carrifran Wildwood is a bold initiative in ecological restoration, spearheaded by a group of friends in the Scottish Borders, with over 800 major supporters across Britain and overseas. The idea is to re-create an extensive tract of wild and largely wooded land, evoking the pristine countryside of six thousand years ago. Once again there will be a haven for a rich array of native Scottish plants and animals excluded for centuries from these denuded hills.

 The Wildwood Group helped to form Borders Forest Trust (a registered charity), found a site and raised £400,000 (with no public money). On 1^st January 2000 the Trust bought Carrifran, a magnificent 1600 acre ice-carved valley in the Moffat Hills. The restoration began at once, when 100 people planted trees on that first day. Now, more than 400,000 native trees and shrubs are growing at Carrifran.

 The David Stevenson Trust is paying for all the trees, the national lottery paid for fencing and public bodies help to fund tree planting and management. The success of the project, however, still depends on volunteer work in the valley and on donations from private individuals. The Carrifran Wildwood Stewardship scheme provides opportunities for anyone who can afford to give a small or large amount to help ensure the long-term future of the Wildwood as a home for native wildlife and an inspiration for human visitors (see How you can Help!).