Project Name

Sconser

Country

Scotland

Current land designations

Cuillen NSA, Cuillen proposed pSPA, Cuillen SSSI,

Specific location

Skye

Year rewilding started

1997

Grid reference

NG522321

Location

Latitude: 57 18 45 N Longitude: 06 06 55 W

Altitude

Project Management

Ownership: John Muir Trust

Management: Mainly tenant crofters, John Muir Trust, Administration: Three main grazing committees undertake management of crofts

Area under rewilding (hectares)

3400ha

Project funding

John Muir Trust charitable donations; Grants from CCS and Scottish Natural Heritage; CAP financial support; National woodland grants; Various other grants

Rewilding methods

Encouragement of sustainable crofting practices; Restoration of exisiting, and creation of new broadleaved native woodland through removal of grazing pressures (deer/she fencing, deer culling, reduction in sheep numbers)

Habitats present

Blanket bog, upland (80% lies within Cuillen Hills), petrifying springs, limestone pavements, open water, coastal saltmarsh, intertidal, Alpine calcareous grasslands, Northern Atlantic wet heaths, native woodlands, conifer plantations

Target species

Pipewort, otter, brown long-eared bat, breeding birds (Corncrake, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Spotted Fly-catcher, Twite, Bullfinch)

Species reintroductions

None

Access to the area

Open public access

Links to further information

John Muir Trust information on Skye: www.jmt.org/cons/skye/index.html