A vision for the future

7 October 2022

Read in Gaelic

Something is stirring in Glenmoriston. Walking through the emerging Trees for Life Rewilding Centre it is hard not to feel a sense of anticipation. Director Ian Richards is enthusiastically contemplating the finishing stages of a visionary project that will bring the concept of rewilding to new audiences in a stylish setting.

Dundreggan has been rewilded by Trees for Life since they purchased the estate in 2008. They were ahead of the game. Today ‘rewilding’ is a phrase that resonates. Back in 2008 it required a degree of bravery and foresight to push the idea. Come March 2023, Trees for Life will be able to tell the story behind their ambitions in a state-of-the-art Rewilding Centre that will be the first of its kind.

Ian is confident the centre will make an impact, and a fairly immediate one at that.  “There will be a sense of something dramatic unfolding when visitors come here,” he explains. “Having accessed the entrance area via a processional walkway I think most visitors will stop in their tracks when they reach the atrium and catch their first sight of our stunning Welcome Tree sculpture. Crafted by sculptor Helen Denerley out of disused metal remnants, it is a remarkable centrepiece standing four metres high. It needed a specially reinforced floor to accommodate the weight, but my, what an impact it will have. It is thought-provoking and a real statement piece. As well as dominating the atrium it has compelling detail, with 12 local species perched in the branches. Art can be such a powerful way to share and celebrate nature, and this piece will be very popular with our visitors.”

Visitors to the centre, which benefited from Natural and Cultural Heritage funding (NCHF), can expect much more than artwork to captivate them. Panels of interpretation, an animated film and live storytelling will bring the theory of rewilding to new audiences of all ages and abilities.

“We will have a lot of interpretation in the new centre,” Ian explains. “In January our interpretation team will be on site with the fixtures and fittings teams to complete the inside. Interpretation can be a challenge when speaking to different audiences simultaneously, the displays we have planned will explain the key things we are doing here at Dundreggan and will strike a balance between education and entertainment. Ultimately if people leave here knowing a little bit more about rewilding, and perhaps contemplating changing their own behaviour as a result of their visit, we will take that as a success.”

It was important to the team at Trees for Life that they ‘walked the walk’ and didn’t just ‘talk the talk’. That is why spaces such as the story-telling room, library and café reflect their core values.

The café has sustainability at its very heart, from the furniture visitors will use to the local produce on offer. The chairs, for example, are made from recycled plastic, and when they have exhausted their useful life, the manufacturer takes them back to be recycled again. It is an impressive commitment to backing the circular economy. There are things like cork seating in the library area, wood cladding on the walls, and even the café tables were made from old scaffolding boards at a social enterprise outlet in Glasgow.

It hasn’t been easy to source materials in a world jolted by first Brexit and then Covid, but Ian and his colleagues have put their heads down and somehow kept things moving.  “It was inevitable that costs would rise in the Covid and Brexit era”, confirms Ian, “but we’ve kept the project on track and prioritised where necessary. Soundproofing, for example, has increased in price, but in a space where storytelling and contemplation are crucial it was something that couldn’t be compromised on.”

Highly knowledgeable staff lie at the heart of the Trees for Life story. It was important therefore that the new centre had a quality presentation space to showcase their vision.  “Our presentation area has capacity for around 100,” explains Ian. “This will be a great space, both for conferences and presentations. The high roof, and abundance of glass and light, will make it an impressive venue. We also have a classroom which can seat 40 people and can be split into two separate rooms. These indoor spaces are a real asset when it comes to telling our story, but actually we view the centre as a gateway to getting people into the outdoors, to engage in what we do here, and the whole rewilding concept.”

The Rewilding Centre isn’t the only new development here. Although out with the scope of the NCHF funding, Ian is understandably excited by the pristine accommodation building which is rapidly taking shape next door.  “A single-storey building, it can be split into two wings, has key card entry and boasts clean, comfortable en-suite facilities. In terms of embracing residential courses and inviting school groups to spend more time finding out what we do here, it is a fantastic modern resource.”

Education, and in particular Gaelic, will be focal points at Dundreggan. “Gaelic is an important part of this project, and an important part of the culture of this area.” says Ian. “In some areas our story is only told in Gaelic, and our staff are being taught an element of Gaelic so we can better tap into that part of our culture. From some staff being able to engage at a very basic level through to fluent Gaelic speakers, we aim to give the language the prominence it deserves.”

Nowhere will the key role of Gaelic be more obvious than in the animated film which has been specially created for the visitor centre. Ian is understandably excited by this development: “Based around Gaelic myths and legends it features an array of entertaining puppets. The story will show how a young local girl is transported whilst out on a walk to a space where she is turned into a deer and becomes part of a chase. This lets the girl reconnect with her past, her history, and in the five-minute showing the audience will be introduced to Oisean, son of Fionn MacCumhaill, and the latter’s dog Bran. The film is shown in a small, fairly intimate room, and ought to captivate, and provoke thoughts on rewilding, in equal measure.”

There are all the things you might expect in a modern visitor centre too. The eastern corridor of the centre will tell the ecological story in the wider international context and feature an array of interactive screens. A range of local exhibits will be on display, and there will be panels to describe what the picture window views are revealing.

With plans for guided walks on the many trails that lead off from the centre, and extended guided tours within, there are ambitions to use the centre as a springboard to wider experiences. “We have a variety of paths outside the building. They range from a circular 1km all abilities trail to a more strenuous hike into the hills,” Ian explains, “and we want to use those paths to help tell our story. People will be able to experience rewilding in action, look for wildlife and explore one of the few remaining parts of the Caledonian forest. One path will head towards our inspiring nursery, which will offer plenty of opportunities for people to appreciate and see the vital work that happens there.”

The impressive new Rewilding Centre is set to tell the exciting story behind the work that Trees for Life carry out in dynamic fashion. It will engage and inspire the public with the idea of rewilding, it will give Gaelic a central platform, and let’s not forget it will create around 20 full-time equivalent posts. Good news in any language.

Find out more about Dundreggan

Further information

The Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund is funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with a multi £million investment in the Highlands and Islands. The Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund will invest in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to provide more and better quality opportunities for visitors to enjoy natural and cultural heritage assets; encourage people to visit some of the more remote and rural areas; and create and sustain jobs, businesses and services in local communities. The purpose of the Fund is to promote and develop the outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands in a way that conserves and protects them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme.  For further information, visit their website or follow @scotgovESIF.