Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust begins first major phase of rewilding project at Dalnacardoch Estate
Tuesday 19 August 2025
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has begun the first stages of peatland restoration on the Dalnacardoch Estate, marking a major milestone in the charity’s 100-year rewilding project.
The restoration, funded by a grant from Peatland ACTION, represents a critical step in restoring the landscape to a healthier, more natural state. Peatland ACTION is a national programme in Scotland, funded by Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
The grant will help restore 130 hectares of degraded peatland at Carn a’Mhurraich. The restoration will repair 36 hectares of erosion and reverse 23km of historic drainage channels, originally dug to improve the land for agriculture.
Work began on Tuesday 22 July and is being carried out by local, Pitlochry-based contractor Taiga Upland Ltd, a specialist in peatland restoration with extensive experience across Scotland.
The project, which is expected to last ten weeks, will improve the biodiversity and resilience of this vital habitat. Blocking drains and repairing eroded areas helps re-wet the peatland, slowing the decay of sphagnum moss — the plant that builds peat and locks away carbon. By keeping the ground waterlogged and low in oxygen, vast carbon stores already in the peat are protected, preserving them for thousands of years.
By rewetting the peatland, bog pools will quickly form , creating conditions which encourage insects and wetland birds to return – boosting populations of keystone species including everything from invertebrates to top predators.
Restoring the first phase of peatland at Dalnacardoch will prevent around 12,000 tonnes of harmful greenhouse gases - including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - from being released into the atmosphere over the next 70 years.
The day-to-day work on site will involve three diggers and a dedicated field team. In some areas, the team will also use hand-working techniques – a rarer and more delicate approach used where heavy machinery risks damaging the sensitive habitat – ensuring that even the most fragile parts of the landscape can be restored with minimal disturbance.
William Hawes, Programme Manager – Scotland at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, said:
‘’Degraded peatland is one of Scotland’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and restoring this globally rare habitat is central to our vision for Dalnacardoch.
When in good condition, peatlands are home to a remarkable variety of wildlife, from mosses and insect-eating plants to rare birds and this first phase of work marks a major milestone in beathing life back into the landscape.
We’re hugely grateful to the Cairngorms National Park Authority and Peatland ACTION for their support in making it possible.”
Andy Ford, Director of Nature and Climate Change at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said:
“Peatland restoration is one of the most effective nature-based solutions to the nature and climate crisis. We’re delighted to be able to support Durrell through Peatland ACTION - helping deliver the aspirations of our Cairngorms 2030 programme - and to see such an ambitious project beginning at the Dalnacardoch Estate.
Working closely with partners like Durrell is key to our ambition for the Cairngorms National Park to become a centre of excellence in peatland restoration as we strive to become the UK's first net zero national park, while supporting long-term jobs in the area. This project contributes significantly to our Partnership Plan commitments in these areas and it’s great to see experienced local contractors like Taiga Upland Ltd leading the work."
Peatland plays a vital role in supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, purifying water and managing flood risk. With a significant proportion of Dalnacardoch comprising peatland, restoring it is essential to improving the estate’s ecological health and resilience.
This marks the first major milestone, with future steps including river restoration and woodland creation. Baseline monitoring has been underway at the estate to inform and evaluate the impact of all planned work on the project.
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is leasing the Dalnacardoch Estate, which sits entirely within the Cairngorms National Park. The land was bought in 2023 by a family foundation with charitable aims, specifically with the intent to lease it to Durrell for a rewilding project.
Since acquiring the land, Durrell has been undertaking ecological audits to establish the geography, species and habitats which will inform the long-term strategic plans that will provide economic, social and environmental benefits.