The Scottish Wildlife Trust has announced their purchase of the Inverbroom Estate near Ullapool, following the gift of £17.5 Million from a mystery benefactor. The nature charity aims to convert the 7,618-hectare estate, which runs from near sea level to Munro height, into a model for rewilding in Northwest Scotland. It will be one of the biggest such projects in the UK.

Covering an area larger than Dundee, Inverbroom includes significant parts of the western Fannaich peaks Sgurr Breac and A' Chailleach and the Corbett Creag Rainich; all of the 4km-long Loch A' Bhraoin; Lochivraon bothy; a big stretch beside the River Broom; and habitats ranging from valley pastures and woodland in Strath More to peat bogs, lochans, and high mountain summits.

Composed largely of peatland, much of which is degraded, the estate includes two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs): Meall an t-Sithe & Creag Rainich SSSI and part of the Fannich Hills SSSI.

Jo Pike, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: 

"Not only is the purchase of Inverbroom an important milestone for the Trust, but also for Scotland's efforts to tackle the nature and climate crises. It is apt that we take ownership of the site on UN World Wildlife Day. "

"The site includes some of Scotland's most iconic species and habitats, so we are delighted to have been able to secure it for the benefit of Scotland's wildlife and people, especially as there was also interest from overseas buyers. It has all been made possible by the incredible generosity of a private donor who is passionate about the part that Inverbroom can play in restoring our precious ecosystems, while delivering benefits for local people. We are extremely grateful to the donor for helping us secure this important site, and to our former Chief Executive and current Scottish Wildlife Trust Ambassador, Jonny Hughes, who facilitated the donation." 

Ambitions for the site include the regeneration of river woodland and temperate rainforest, the restoration of peatlands, and the removal of invasive species. All this will depend on more sustainable deer management. And the Trust has promised their donor that none of the work at Inverbroom will be funded through the sale of carbon credits.

The estate's 11-bedroom Inverbroom Lodge will be converted to holiday lets to raise income, also supplemented with rents from farming tenancies.

"Our vision is for a network of healthy, resilient ecosystems on land and sea, supporting Scotland's wildlife and people" said Jo Pike.

"As with our wider work in the North West, Inverbroom provides us with a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate that managing a landscape for wildlife and climate can go hand in hand with managing it for people. We have already held positive and constructive conversations with members of the local community and look forward to working together to create a sustainable future for Inverbroom."

The Trust plans to work alongside local farmers to promote agricultural practices that will benefit nature while maintaining a productive business model. Over time, the intention is to develop opportunities for local employment, training and volunteering.

Scott Renwick, whose family have farmed at Inverbroom for three generations, said: "We as a family are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Our grandfather moved to Inverbroom in 1933, so the family have had a knowledge of the land for 92 years. There is an incredible diversity of wildlife on the estate, from sea-level to 3,300ft, from seals on the shore to ptarmigan on the tops. It is exciting to be involved with a highly respected organisation who will take traditional hill farming and wildlife preservation hand in hand, so that we can continue to farm at Inverbroom in such a way as to protect the natural environment." 

Hill-goers and conservationists might consider this unmitigated good news; but not everyone is convinced. Land reform campaigner Andy Wightman has sounded a sceptical note:

"Since the 1980s, with the acquisition of Upper Glenavon by the RSPB, conservation groups have been buying more and more land" he told UKH.

"This has been in response to failures of public policy to ensure that conservation objectives are secured on private property. Rather than engage in a programme of work to reform land governance, such bodies have decided instead to become private landowners and use the power that comes with it to advance conservation objectives.

"That is fine in the short term but only a radical reform of land governance is going to achieve the restoration of nature across Scotland. What has happened here is that £17 million has been handed over to a company controlled in the British Virgin islands. Spending £17 million on a properly resourced campaign to secure real and lasting land reform in Scotland would be a far better use of such resources."