WHAT IS THE NORTHWOODS REWILDING NETWORK?
Northwoods is a Scotland-wide chain of landholdings convened and coordinated by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. Its partners are all committed to nature recovery and share a vision for an ecologically restored landscape, where habitats are better connected and species can recover, expand and disperse.
The network is underpinned by a set of core principles, but Northwoods seeks to demonstrate how rewilding can be applied across different scales and settings, and the range of benefits it can drive, for nature, climate and people.
What makes Northwoods different?
- Focused on rewilding in Scotland
The network is focused on Scotland, enabling us to support land partners using our in-depth knowledge of Scottish species and habitats, and our hard-won understanding of the cultural and social context of land use in Scotland. - Limited to medium-sized landholdings
Partnership is restricted to medium-sized (usually 100 to 1,000 acre) landholdings, to enable land managers at this scale to make a meaningful contribution to ecological recovery. - Tailored support and guidance
Our emphasis is on establishing formal partnerships with land managers who want to commit to rewilding. This allows us to provide support that is responsive to the needs of land partners in varied settings, with different aspirations and starting points. - Showcasing and storytelling
By sharing the models and stories emerging from the Northwoods Rewilding Network, we seek to inform and inspire further ecological recovery across Scotland.
WHY IS NORTHWOODS NEEDED?
Scotland boasts some of the most inspiring examples of landscape-scale rewilding. However, to address the dual emergencies of climate breakdown and nature loss, rewilding must also be accessible to smaller landholdings, so they can contribute to ecological recovery.
We know from speaking to land managers and community groups across Scotland that despite aspirations to rewild, many feel they lack the knowledge of rewilding best practice, or have concerns about funding and communications.
Northwoods exists to help its partners overcome these barriers, and in doing so, prove the power of rewilding to restore habitats, recover wildlife populations, mitigate climate change and support rural communities.
20 years from now…
If nature is allowed greater freedom to shape and govern the landscape, change can happen surprisingly quickly. We don’t know exactly what the network will look like in 20 years – that will depend on a range of dynamic processes – but the rewilding actions taken by our land partners will catalyse a more vibrant, complex mosaic of habitats supporting greater abundance and diversity of life.
NORTHWOODS LAND PARTNERS
Northwoods is an expanding, diverse community of land partners across Scotland, who have committed to rewild some or all of their land in line with the Northwoods Nine principles of rewilding.
Becoming a Northwoods partner
Are you interested in rewilding your land, but not sure where to begin? Or rewilding already, and facing challenges you need help to solve? Could your story inspire others? Consider becoming a Northwoods partner.
On joining, partners commit to the Northwoods Nine principles and agree a Rewilding Plan outlining commitments on both sides. Drawing on the knowledge and expertise we have in the SCOTLAND: The Big Picture team and within our reach, Northwoods delivers tailored support with a strong emphasis on:
- Application of rewilding best practice
Support with accessing expert advice and making the right scientific and practical choices for individual landholdings. - Financial and business development support
Working with partners to access funding and develop nature-based business to sustain their rewilding. - Communications and storytelling resources
Supporting partners to share and showcase their work to a wide audience, and engage with local communities to demonstrate the benefits of rewilding.
