Scotland’s native Caledonian pine forests have been reduced to just 1% of their original range. Centuries of felling, burning, and intensive grazing and browsing have altered these ecosystems, and one of the main challenges to their recovery today is the impact of high deer numbers. Without natural predators, deer populations have increased to levels that prevent young trees and shrubs from establishing, limiting the return of woodland and slowing wider habitat restoration.
At Cairngorms Connect, large-scale restoration is helping to reverse this decline. Through deer management, peatland restoration, and forest expansion, the partnership is supporting the recovery of habitats for species such as capercaillie, red squirrel, black grouse, and golden eagle. Across the landscape, young pines and birches are beginning to take root once more, showing visible signs of regeneration.
Behind this work are dedicated stalkers who spend long days in remote parts of the Cairngorms, observing wildlife and creating the conditions for natural recovery. In this diary entry, Cairngorms Connect stalker Jack Ward shares a glimpse into one of those nights in the hills, where he witnessed the wildlife and renewal that make this work so rewarding.
One of the many wonderful things about Cairngorms Connect is the scale of the landscape. This means that in order to get to the far reaches and most remote parts of the project area, I occasionally venture into the hills and camp out. This allows me to be in the distant places during the late evening and at first light.
It always feels special to be alone in the half light, literally miles from the nearest person, building or road and more often than not, the effort is rewarded with some lovely wildlife highlights.
This August I set off and camped out between Bynack Mor and A’Choinneach on the RSPB Abernethy NNR. Whilst setting up camp a golden eagle soared right over head in the evening light, which made me feel pleased with my choice of camp spots!
Equally as special, I was excited to see a rowan sapling growing at around 800m and early the following morning this was pipped by a Scots pine sapling at 925m. It’s always nice to see the evidence of everyone’s hard work that happens across the partnership.
As I emerged from my tent in the half light at 4:30 am, I was able to watch a big, healthy red deer hind making her way across the hill. Nothing makes you feel so intrinsically linked to the landscape as waking up and instantly seeing the wildlife we share this place with.
I moved through toward Beinn a’Mheadhoin, where patches of hairbells, tormentor and juniper covered the plateau. Then, a movement caught my eye. A plover’s head was bobbing on the near skyline. As I crept round the rocks, I was then thrilled to see not one, but six dotterel amongst the rocks. Several young birds with the male still keeping watch over them.
This highlight was the pick of the bunch. Not only to see such a rare and beautiful species, but the joy and hope that this family has had a successful year. This was a truly wonderful way to spend a birthday morning!
This article was originally published on the Cairngorms Connect website. To find out more about Cairngorms Connect, visit their project page.
