REWILDING STUDY TOURS
A case study: The University of St Andrews
Students from the Department of Zoology at The University of St Andrews join us annually in the Cairngorms for an immersive rewilding study tour. Over the course of four days, the residential course connects classroom learning with real-world nature restoration, bringing academic study to life in one of the UK’s most inspiring wild places.
Based at Ballintean Mountain Lodge in Glen Feshie, the group explores pioneering projects across the Northwoods Rewilding Network, and learns first hand how rewilding is transforming degraded landscapes into thriving ecosystems.
Through a variety of sites, settings and conversations, they also learn about:
- The history of conservation and threats to biodiversity in Scotland.
- The ecological, social, economic and political challenges associated with rewilding and conservation.
- The socio-ecology of rewilding through discussions with stakeholders.
- What practical nature restoration looks like in Scotland.
This year’s activities included:
- A walking tour at Bamff Wildland, Blairgowrie, with estate owner Paul Ramsay, looking at beaver habitats and free-roaming livestock such as Tamworth pigs.
- A guided walk along the alluvial River Feshie with co-owner of Ballintean, Peter Cairns. With very little intervention, this farm holding is a great example of how a landscape can develop when nature is left to lead.
- A guided tour of the 150-acre farm, Lynbreck Croft, outside Grantown on Spey, from owners Lynn and Sandra. Here, students saw first hand how they’ve transformed sterile pastures into a mixed habitat, producing food for the local community.
- A visit to Cairngorms Connect at Abernethy Forest near Nethy Bridge. As well as helping with nature recovery, deer management produces venison. Here, students saw how a local, accessible, environmentally sustainable source of high quality and sustainable protein can benefit the local community.
- A stop at Argaty Red Kites, Doune, Perthshire: students were treated to a tour of this nature-positive, working livestock farm from owner, Tom Bowser. The Bowsers, who deliver wildlife watching tours on their farm in partnership with the RSPB, were the first private landowners in Scotland to reintroduce beavers back in 2021.
In the evenings, students share delicious meals made from nourishing, locally-sourced food, and enjoy presentations and discussions on careers and pathways into rewilding. Our study tours leave a lasting impression, consistently earning high praise and enthusiastic feedback from those who join us.
