Scotland’s wild revival: latest survey shows nature recovery driving jobs and investment - SCOTLAND: The Big Picture
Scotland’s rewilding movement is paying off, with a new survey revealing the impressive impact of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture’s Northwoods Rewilding Network
Since its launch in 2021, the Northwoods Rewilding Network has driven significant ecological recovery across 10,500 hectares of land - more than half the size of Glasgow - whilst creating over 100 jobs and more than £3 million in local investment.
Coordinated by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, the expanding Northwoods network consists of 91 landholdings up and down the country all committed to nature recovery. Highlights from the 2024 survey include:
- Making rewilding pay: Over £3 million spent with local suppliers, supporting 101 full-time jobs in 26 nature-related businesses.
- Rewilding people: Nearly half a million paying visitors attending rewilding sites since 2021.
- Woodland expansion: Over 327,000 trees planted and 1,368 hectares set aside for natural regeneration.
- More space for water: 289 ponds installed, over 2km of watercourses re-naturalised, and 38,839 riverside trees planted.
- Boosting biodiversity: 20 beavers released, wildcats recorded at multiple locations, and rare species like the purple hairstreak butterfly, grey partridge and osprey returning at specific sites.
‘This is rewilding in action - delivering real benefits for people, nature and the climate,’ says Aidan McCormick, Rewilding Officer with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. ‘These results show that nature restoration and rural regeneration go hand in hand. We’re seeing landscapes recover, businesses thrive and communities reconnect with nature. Scotland has a chance to be a world leader in rewilding, and these findings show we’re heading in the right direction.’