‘From Lochside to Mountain-top” is one of two main programmes being delivered by Wild Strathfillan partners. Through this workstream, Wild Strathfillan is supporting the development of a nature restoration network.

Strathfillan

Strathfillan, in the north of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, is a landscape of exceptional habitat diversity, stretching from lochside to mountain top. It hosts Atlantic rainforest, upland birch woodland, the UK’s southernmost remnant of ancient Caledonian pinewood and some of the country’s richest montane flora. The area includes 15 designated sites and is part of the Breadalbane Important Plant Area.

Nature in Trouble

Over time, many of Strathfillan’s key habitats have become degraded and fragmented. Heavy grazing and browsing pressure have reduced once-extensive native woodlands to small, isolated patches struggling to regenerate. Invasive non-native species outcompete local species, impacting the health of habitats. Human pressures—such as littering, toileting, and fires—further damage these sensitive areas, and are compounded by the growing impacts of climate change. Currently, all designated sites in the area have at least one feature in poor or declining condition, and the Breadalbane Important Plant Area is classified as threatened.

A nature recovery network

From Lochside to Mountain Top is an ambitious nature restoration project spanning over 50,000 hectares in the North of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Through targeted ecological restoration, it is creating a nature recovery network that restores natural processes, supports biodiversity, and builds a healthier, more resilient landscape where nature and rural industries thrive. Wild Strathfillan will serve as a leading example of restoration in a mixed-use landscape, typical of much of Scotland.

The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Countryside Trust is leading the project in partnership with over 30 land managers, community groups, NGOs, businesses, and public bodies.

Its location and rich habitats make it a key part of a wider nature recovery network across Central Scotland. It connects with major initiatives including Ben Lawers NNR, The Great Trossachs Forest NNR, Temperate Rainforest Zone, Forth Climate Forest, and Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership—amplifying collective impact for nature and communities.

2023: The very beginnings

In January 2023, Wild Strathfillan received development funding from NatureScot’s Nature Restoration Fund, enabling stakeholder engagement, surveys, and feasibility studies. This groundwork led to a programme of practical restoration projects and the creation of a specialist plant nursery at Glenfalloch to grow native plants from local seed.  A major achievement was forming a diverse partnership of expert stakeholders, whose continued input is key to the project’s long-term success.

2024-2026: Delivering our first work on the ground