Rewilding in Scotland
Creating healthy woodlands, peatlands and salt marshes in Scotland
Established in 2008 by photographers, filmmakers and writers, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture became the first organisation in Scotland dedicated to communicating the benefits of rewilding and bringing the conversation into the mainstream. Their vision is of a vast network of rewilded land and water across Scotland, where wildlife flourishes and people thrive. Today they remain dedicated to making rewilding happen across Scotland as a solution to the growing climate and biodiversity crises — by influencing opinion and delivering practical change.
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A highlight of 2025 was the successful release of beavers at a partner site, restoring wetlands, improving water management, and boosting biodiversity.
One of the project's measurable benefits includes 289 ponds and wetland featuring 2,085m of re-naturalised watercourse.
Thanks to the Northwoods rewilding project, 1,368 hectares have been set aside for natural tree regeneration.
Since July 2025, 38,839 riparian trees have been planted.
Scotland: The Big Picture have produced a visual representation of how a Scottish landscape could develop over half a century with reduced grazing pressure, showing native woodlands expanding, natural processes returning, and biodiversity flourishing.
Through their Fiadh Project, Scotland: The Big Picture have launched a new film series on deer management. The series demonstrates how deer are an integral part of Scotland's ecosystems, and encourages constructive, solutions-focused dialogue around this sometimes polarised issue.
In September 2025, after a year of preparatory work, two beaver families were released at a Northwoods partner site north of Loch Ness. This marked a major milestone in restoring this keystone species.
The Northwoods Rewilding Network are on track to grow their network to 100 land partners by the end of 2025. This is proving to be a powerful catalyst for nature recovery, connecting land, wildlife, and people to build a resilient, nature-rich future.
🌳 It wasn’t so long ago that wild forests, free-flowing rivers and rich wetlands stretched across much of Scotland, supporting a complex web of life. Today, despite its majestic vistas, Scotland's land is emptier and poorer, its wildlife diminished. 🌱 We have to recognise what has been lost, but more importantly, imagine what could return. Rewilding provides hope for a more nature-rich future that brings a wealth of benefits to us too.
Rewilding in Scotland joined Pinwheel!
Northwoods Rewilding Network: a growing network of over 70 land partners - committed to nature recovery, Impact 2021-2023
Rewilding in Scotland was verified by Pinwheel