The charity has thanked the anonymous donor for their generosity, promising action to help people and planet.

A Scottish conservation charity has announced the purchase of its largest ever site for nature restoration after a large private donation. 

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is promising action for wildlife and people after securing the 7,618-hectare Inverbroom Estate, near Ullapool, for £17.5million. 

The nature charity plans to restore wildlife and habitats on the site to help tackle the nature and climate crises.  

Working closely with the local community, the Trust aims to transform the landscape through woodland regeneration, peatland restoration and nature-friendly farming. 

This ecologically and historically significant site, which is larger than the city of Dundee, has been bought as a result of a gift from a private donor, the largest donation in the Trust’s 60-year history. 

Jo Pike, chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “Not only is the purchase of Inverbroom an important milestone for the Trust, but also for Scotland’s efforts to tackle the nature and climate crises. It is apt that we take ownership of the site on UN World Wildlife Day.   

“The site includes some of Scotland’s most iconic species and habitats, so we are delighted to have been able to secure it for the benefit of Scotland’s wildlife and people, especially as there was also interest from overseas buyers. It has all been made possible by the incredible generosity of a private donor who is passionate about the part that Inverbroom can play in restoring our precious ecosystems, while delivering benefits for local people. 

“We are extremely grateful to the donor for helping us secure this important site, and to our former chief executive and current Scottish Wildlife Trust ambassador, Jonny Hughes, who facilitated the donation.” 

Securing the site will enable the charity to significantly enhance its efforts to protect and restore wildlife at scale across Scotland, with planned nature restoration work supporting the Scottish Government’s ambitions to “protect 30% of our land and seas for nature by 2030”, in line with international targets. 

Following the purchase, the Trust has announced several ambitions for the site, from the regeneration of river woodland and temperate rainforest habitat to restoring peatlands and removing invasive species. 

It has made a commitment to the donor that none of the work at Inverbroom will be funded through the sale of carbon credits.  

In recent years, the Trust has campaigned for more support to be made available for nature friendly farming. 

With the acquisition of Inverbroom, it plans to work alongside local farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices that will benefit nature while maintaining a productive business model.  

The Trust is also committed to acting as a responsible landlord and over time will develop opportunities for local employment, training and volunteering.  

Scott Renwick, whose family have farmed at Inverbroom for three generations, said: “We as a family are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the Scottish Wildlife Trust. 

“Our grandfather moved to Inverbroom in 1933, so the family have had a knowledge of the land for 92 years. There is an incredible diversity of wildlife on the estate, from sea-level to 3,300ft, from seals on the shore to ptarmigan on the tops. 

“It is exciting to be involved with a highly respected organisation who will take traditional hill farming and wildlife preservation hand in hand, so that we can continue to farm at Inverbroom in such a way as to protect the natural environment.” 

Situated approximately eight miles south of Ullapool, the landscape at Inverbroom is one of epic proportions. 

The site is predominantly made up of peatland, ancient semi-natural woodland, farmland and numerous lochs and lochans, the largest being the 2.5-mile-long Loch a’ Bhraoin. 

The site is bordered to the east by two rivers, the Broom and the Cuileig, and to the south by two Munros, A’ Chailleach and Sgùrr Breac. 

The built infrastructure includes two bridges designed by Sir John Fowler, chief engineer on the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge, who once owned Inverbroom.

Through its existing Riverwoods initiative, which supports the creation, restoration and monitoring of river woodlands across Scotland, the Trust will create new woodlands along the riverbanks in order to improve conditions for otters, Atlantic salmon, freshwater pearl mussel and other wildlife.  

Inverbroom sits within Scotland’s temperate rainforest zone which, due to specific climatic requirements, is one of the rarest habitat types in the world. 

The Trust is aiming to expand and restore rainforest where feasible, thereby improving air and water quality and providing homes for rare plants and animals such as wood warblers, pine martens and a wide range of mosses, lichens and fungi.  

These ambitions will be realised through effective deer management, the removal of invasive non-native species such as Rhododendron ponticum, and natural woodland regeneration supported by supplementary native tree planting.  

With peatland making up approximately 70% of the site, the Trust is planning to maximise the landscape’s potential for tackling climate change. Globally, healthy peatlands are one of the most effective ecosystems for carbon storage; their unique properties allow them to store vast quantities of carbon which prevents it from being released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Jo added: “Our vision is for a network of healthy, resilient ecosystems on land and sea, supporting Scotland’s wildlife and people. 

“As with our wider work in the North West, Inverbroom provides us with a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate that managing a landscape for wildlife and climate can go hand in hand with managing it for people. 

“We have already held positive and constructive conversations with members of the local community and look forward to working together to create a sustainable future for Inverbroom.”

Inverbroom was placed on the market through Landfor Chartered Land & Forestry Agency in August 2024. The Scottish Wildlife Trust takes ownership of the majority of the estate on Monday 3 March, with the remainder due to come into the Trust’s ownership on 8 April.