At Tireragan, on the southwestern tip of Mull, woodland cover has grown from 56 hectares in 1994, to 93 hectares in 2024, thanks to natural regeneration following the removal of sheep and deer.

Part of a Scotland-wide network of landholdings committed to nature recovery and coordinated by rewilding charity, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, Tireragan comprises 625 hectares of critical habitats, from temperate rainforest and wet heath to blanket bog, lochans and rocky coastline. The charity’s Northwoods Rewilding Network is a growing  chain of landholdings across Scotland, ring fenced for ecological recovery, where habitats are better connected and species can recover, expand and disperse. 

'To see twice as much woodland cover today as we saw thirty years ago is fantastic, and a testament to the early vision of the late, local ecologist, Paul Haworth, who recognised, back in the 1980s, the benefits to nature of essentially leaving land alone,' explains Aidan Maccormick, Northwoods Rewilding Officer for SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. 'His vision took hold in Tireragan and the site was fenced off in 1994 to allow trees and shrubs to regenerate naturally. It’s a great example of what can be achieved by reducing grazing pressure and allowing nature to take its course.'

The woodland expansion has proved good news for a number of species, as Aidan continues: 'In 2024 our camera traps recorded pine marten for the first time, and the site is also home to breeding white-tailed eagle, golden eagle and hen harrier.'

Despite fencing, browsing deer continue to exert a pressure on emerging woodland, with species such as willow and aspen specifically targeted. 'A diverse range of trees and shrubs delivers the best outcomes for nature, so unfortunately we’ll have to continually manage deer numbers for the foreseeable future,' continues Aidan.

Cared for by a group of nine volunteers forming the Tireragan Trust, the community managed landholding joined the Northwoods Rewilding Network in December 2021. 

'Our aim is to protect and enhance the biodiversity of this special place whilst maintaining a human connection through recreation, art and education,' explains Trustee, Rutger Emmelkamp. 'We’re thrilled to have almost doubled the amount of woodland cover, creating more habitats, increasing the variety of species and capturing more carbon. 

'It gives a great sense of progress towards one of our key commitments within the Northwoods partnership, to develop more native woodland. Our next steps are to create more space for water through further peatland restoration, increase  community engagement and in the longer term, reinstate natural grazing. It’s an exciting journey.'

ENDS