The world's first rewilding centre has opened its doors near one of the most famous spots in Scotland.
The Dundreggan Rewilding Centre is now open near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highland, with the centre hosting various events this weekend to celebrate its opening. The charity behind the project are hopeful that the centre will show how nature recovery can inspire the people across Scotland and further afield. The charity is also hoping to benefit the local, rural community through the creation of jobs within the centre.
Just eight miles from Loch Ness on the A887, Dundreggan Rewilding Centre will offer a gateway for visitors to explore the 10,000-acre estate where charity Trees for Life is restoring the Caledonia forest and the wildlife within it.
Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, said for 15 years "Dundreggan has been a beacon for rewilding our landscapes" and that "now it will be a beacon for rewilding people too.
"We want to breathe life into the huge potential of the Highlands to help nature return in a major way - providing people from all walks of life with fantastic experiences while supporting re-peopling, boosting social and economic opportunities, and tackling the climate and nature emergencies."
A total of 20 new jobs have been created by the project, with the charity explaining that the opening will continue to boost the local economy by not only attractive visitors to the centre itself by also to the 40-bedroom accommodation they are building on site.
The centre will feature a tree sculpture of the reclaimed metal by artist Helen Denerley, with the project providing visitors with wild forest trails, child-friendly forest experiences as well as more adventurous walks for those looking for a challenge.
Laurelin Cummins-Fraser, the centre's director, said it is "embedded in the landscape and the community".
She added: "Its design is inspired by Gaelic heritage and history, and by the Caledonian forest - with verticals representing trees, changing light to reflect how light plays in woodlands, and materials and colours conjuring up bracken and forest bark."
The new centre is part of Affric Highlands which is the largest rewilding landscape in the UK, potentially covering more than 500,000 acres in total.
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