Wild Strathfillan is an ambitious new nature restoration initiative working across more than 50,000 hectares of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

 

The initiative is led by a cohort of land managers, communities, statutory bodies, educational institutions and businesses who share an interest in restoring nature across the landscape and supporting rural communities.  The work of the Wild Strathfillan Initiative is being coordinated by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust, with support from Loch Lomond &The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Wild Strathfillan is the second landscape scale nature restoration programme to be undertaken in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and the first to involve private land managers and place equal weight to rural sustainability.

There are currently two main programmes being delivered by Wild Strathfillan partners:

• From Lochside to Mountain-top
• The People and Nature of Wild Strathfillan

A Unique Landscape

The Strathfillan landscape, situated in the north of the National Park, is unique and biologically important.  It’s a landscape full of life and variety – from peaceful lochs and winding rivers to native woodlands and rugged mountain tops.

The area features some of the richest montane flora in the UK and is part of the Breadalbane Mountains Important Plant Area.  There are many designated sites including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) and a Special Protected Area (SPA).  Many of Scotland’s most iconic species can be found here, including Black Grouse, Red Squirrel, and Osprey.

Image: Map displaying the Wild Strathfillan initiative area.

All of this is set within a patchwork of multiple land uses – including hill farming, sporting, and forestry – which support the livelihoods of local communities and underpin the area’s cultural heritage.

A Unique Heritage

The communities of Tyndrum, Crianlarich, Inverarnan and Killin have a rich history dating back to the 8th century.  The area has a strong history of travel and trade, particularly as Strathfillan was the convergence of many droving routes.  The landscape, whether travelling through it, mining the hills or farming have shaped the communities for centuries and continues to be an important part of the identity of this unique and fascinating area.

The Wild Strathfillan Initiative is working to continue this story by connecting and conserving habitats whilst ensuring that rural livelihoods and communities can be sustained and thrive.

 

This project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot and, with thanks to to National Lottery players, by the National Lottery Heritage Fund