The European Nature Trust has partnered with Alladale Wilderness Reserve to release herds of longhorn cattle, in partnership with the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Longhorn cattle mimic the role of lost megafaunal herbivores, with which the Highland ecosystem evolved. Herds have already helped to diversify the vegetation, boosting plant and wildlife numbers.

Alladale is also the site of a decade-long study exploring the effectiveness of wild boar as a conservation tool, in partnership with WildCRU and Oxford University. They have helped to diversify vegetation within experimental enclosures, having a sustained positive impact on bracken and forb species richness.

By visiting Alladale Wilderness Reserve, you can engage with the movement to restore the Highland ecosystem. Watch red squirrels, ptarmigan and golden eagles; explore Alladale’s pioneering restoration efforts; and reconnect with true nature.