Trees for Life’s Dundreggan Rewilding Centre in Glenmoriston, near Loch Ness, has been awarded the Nature Tourism Award at the RSPB Scotland’s Nature of Scotland Awards in 2024. The award recognizes the centre’s pioneering efforts in rewilding landscapes and people.
At a ceremony held on November 28th at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, the centre was commended for its role in “bringing people and nature together.” This award is a great honor for the centre, as it recognizes their team’s hard work in providing a unique and high-quality experience for visitors from all over the world.
Laurelin Cummins-Fraser, the Director of Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, expressed her gratitude, saying, “It’s a testament to our fantastic team who deliver a unique, high-quality experience for visitors from around the world, and to the hope and inspiration rewilding offers.”
Dundreggan has been a leader in the rewilding of Scotland’s landscapes for many years, and since the opening of the Rewilding Centre in 2023, it has also become a leader in rewilding people. The centre offers visitors the chance to connect with nature, explore the stunning Highlands landscapes, and witness rewilding in action.
The Nature of Scotland Awards recognize individuals and organizations across local communities, schools, and businesses who are making a difference for Scotland’s wildlife and natural environment. This year’s awards saw 53 finalists from all over Scotland gather to celebrate their achievements.
The centre, developed in collaboration with the local community, offers a range of events and activities throughout the year, accessible forest trails, a café and events space, a storytelling bothy, outdoor play area, and purpose-built accommodation with 20 bedrooms. Visitors can also discover how rewilding benefits wildlife such as golden eagles, red squirrels, and wood ants, as well as learn about Gaelic culture.
Professor Colin Galbraith, Chair of awards headline sponsor NatureScot, praised the winners, saying, “Their energy, expertise and compassion is truly inspirational, and reason for celebration. Their achievements give us all hope for a nature-rich future across Scotland and demonstrate that everyone can take action to help.”
Trees for Life has been rewilding Dundreggan since purchasing the former deer stalking estate in 2008. With the help of dedicated volunteers, the organization has been able to restore important fragments of the Caledonian forest. They also have a specialized tree nursery that grows over 70,000 native trees each year, and the biodiversity hotspot has recorded over 4,000 plant and animal species.
Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, also praised the winners, saying, “The Nature of Scotland Awards have brought a growing group of hardworking, motivated and passionate people into the conservation spotlight, and I’d like to wish all our winners a huge congratulations. It’s a joy to see such incredible work happening with nature and climate at its heart, and Scotland is all the better for it.”
Scotland is currently one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and Trees for Life, as a member of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, is urging people to sign the Rewilding Nation Charter at www.rewild.scot/charter. The charter calls on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation and commit to nature recovery across 30% of land and sea.
For more information about Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, visit visitdundreggan.co.uk.
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