Scottish conservationists are set to transform a Highland sporting estate into a rewilding project after receiving a substantial donation of over £17.5m from an anonymous benefactor. The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), known for its small nature reserves, has acquired the Inverbroom estate near Ullapool in north-west Scotland, which includes an 11-bedroom lodge with an indoor swimming pool. The donation, facilitated by a former SWT chief executive and the UBS UK donor-advised foundation, marks the largest gift the trust has received and is believed to be one of the largest donations to a conservation body in the UK.
The 7,618-hectare estate, featuring the 999-metre high peak Sgùrr Breac, will serve as a model for rewilding in the region. The SWT plans to create new Atlantic rainforest, restore riverside woodland, and revise the degraded peatland. The estate also has historical significance, with links to the Forth Bridge and bridges erect by Sir John Fowler, the chief engineer for the bridge.
Jo Pike, the trust’s chief executive, emphasized the potential for nature restoration and its dual benefits for nature and people. Despite the estate’s open hill terrain and lack of notable ecological features, the SWT hopes its regeneration efforts will inspire greater rewilding in the surrounding area.
The SWT intends to end deer stalking and grouse shooting, practices that can conflict with neighboring sporting estates relying on the free movement of red deer for shooting parties. Pike noted that professional deer management will be a priority, with the possibility of local people hunting deer in the future. The Victorian-era lodge will be converted into a holiday let to generate income for the estate, aligning with the growing trend of conservation charities utilizing luxury tourism to raise funds.
The trust is seeking additional funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and state subsidies to support peatland and woodland regeneration. The donor has also provided funds to cover running costs for the next few years, with surplus funds to be placed into an endowment for future upkeep and conservation efforts.
Land reform campaigner Andy Wightman expressed concerns about the acquisition, considering it a risky business for a conservation body and suggesting a shift towards restoring land through well-crafted public policy rather than large-scale land acquisition.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/03/mystery-donors-175m-gift-could-turn-scottish-estate-into-rewilding-showcase
