NTS own the very large and adjoining mountain properties of Kintail and West Affric where for many years grazing by sheep and deer have prevented any woodland regeneration and resulted in native woodland declining to small and scattered fragments. This project is intended to make a start with restoring native woodland to appropriate parts of the property. It has consisted of a 3 year Palaeoenvironmental Survey in West Affric by Stirling University to provide information on past vegetation and landuse to guide future woodland restoration proposals plus a series of deer fenced enclosures (totalling 440 ha) to protect existing remnants of woodland and allow natural regeneration with some planting to establish new seed sources for the future. Additional elements included an archaeological survey of the enclosure sites and support for the necessary deer management. NTS have led the project but Trees for Life has also been involved with its volunteers carrying out some of the practical work.

(Click map to enlarge)