UIGSHADER LIVING FOREST PROJECT
The silhouette of this former commercial plantation, lying in the floodplain of the River Snizort, is described by its community owners as ‘shaped like a dog with its front feet in a bucket’. Thanks to the efforts of this dynamic community team, new native trees – both planted and naturally regenerating – are beginning to appear among the stumps of previously felled conifers. Long term goals of the project team include the removal of all the non-native sitka, the restoration of the peat, and the establishment of a low-impact woodland crofts and a modern clachan.
Key rewilding commitments:
- MORE NATIVE WOODLAND: Planting native tree species; encouraging natural tree regeneration by fencing out herbivores.
- MORE SPACE FOR WATER: Restoring peatland by low impact ditch-blocking.
- WILDER RIVERS: Riparian planting utilising seed islands.
- LET NATURE LEAD: Remove non-native sitka trees, harvesting timber from larger trees for community use.
- CONNECT WITH COMMUNITIES: Organise volunteer days and education sessions - for both adults and children.
"Our core focus is to restore both the native woodland and the peatland. We are determined to do so in a way that benefits the community and provides Skye with a valuable amenity asset."
