Nearly £6 million has been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to a five-year project set up to restore Scotland's rare Atlantic rainforest, with funding to support the creation of hubs in Torridon, Morvern and mid-Argyll.
The Our Rainforest Futures project, an Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest initiative led by the Woodland Trust Scotland, will give local people training and work opportunities in habitat restoration, deer management and the removal of invasive species. Argyll Countryside Trust, Community Woodlands Association, Plantlife, RSPB Scotland and SRUC are also involved.
About 75,000 acres (30,351ha) of rain-soaked woodlands on Scotland's west coast are designated Atlantic rainforest because of the rare oceanic plant life. The forest has been found to be home to hundreds of species including glow worms, slime moulds and rare lichens. Overgrazing by deer and livestock, invasive plant species and disease are among the threats to surviving areas.
The Torridon hub would involve communities in Kinlochewe, Shieldaig, Lochcarron, Applecross and Gairloch. In Morvern, the project would include Lochaline, Strontian and Tobermory on Mull. Mid-Argyll's hub would involve communities in Crinan, Tayvallich, Lochgilphead, Ardrishaig and Tarbert.
Caroline Clark, Scotland director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said Scotland's rainforest was internationally significant but largely unknown. "A 2025 survey found fewer than one in three people even know it exists," she said. "This major investment, using funds raised by National Lottery players, recognises that the future of our rainforest and the future of many west coast communities are closely linked. With the right support, both can thrive."
Julie Stoneman, Saving Scotland's Rainforest Programme manager at Plantlife, said it was hoped the project could create more than 20 jobs and 15 trainee posts.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The grant seeks to reverse decades of decline in a globally rare habitat that most Scots do not know exists.
- The project links environmental restoration with rural employment and training on the west coast.
- Success could become a model for community-led conservation of temperate rainforests elsewhere in the UK.
Background
Scotland's Atlantic rainforest is a temperate rainforest found only on the west coast, sustained by high rainfall and mild temperatures. It supports a unique collection of lichens, mosses, ferns and other oceanic plant life. The surviving fragments have been reduced by overgrazing, invasive species and disease, and conservation groups have long called for a coordinated restoration effort. The National Lottery Heritage Fund award is one of the largest single grants for the habitat.
Key Perspectives
- Caroline Clark (Scotland director, The National Lottery Heritage Fund): Scotland's rainforest is internationally significant but largely unknown; the investment ties the forest's future to that of west coast communities.
- Julie Stoneman (Saving Scotland's Rainforest Programme manager, Plantlife): It was hoped the project could create more than 20 jobs and 15 trainee posts.
What to Watch
- Whether the project's training and job creation targets are met, especially in remote communities.
- The impact of deer management and invasive species removal on woodland regeneration over five years.
- Public awareness of Scotland's rainforest after the project's outreach.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAlmost £6 million has been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to a project to restore Scotland’s rainforest.BBC Scotland: “Almost £6m has been given to a five-year project set up to restore Scotland's rare rainforest. The award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund”
- SupportedThe project is five years long and will receive support to create hubs in Torridon, Morvern and mid-Argyll.BBC Scotland: “Almost £6m has been given to a five-year project set up to restore Scotland's rare rainforest. The award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will support the creation of three hubs to be located in Torridon, Morvern and mid-Argyll.”
- SupportedThe project will give local people training and work opportunities in habitat restoration, deer management and invasive-species removal.BBC Scotland: “Through the Our Rainforest Futures project local people will be given training and work opportunities around habitat restoration, deer management and the removal of invasive species.”
- SupportedOur Rainforest Futures is an Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest project led by the Woodland Trust Scotland.BBC Scotland: “Our Rainforest Futures is an Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest project led by the Woodland Trust Scotland.”
- SupportedArgyll Countryside Trust, Community Woodlands Association, Plantlife, RSPB Scotland and SRUC are involved in the project.BBC Scotland: “Argyll Countryside Trust, Community Woodlands Association, Plantlife, RSPB Scotland and SRUC are involved.”
- SupportedAbout 75,000 acres (30,351 hectares) of rain-soaked west-coast woodlands are designated Atlantic rainforest because of their rare oceanic plant life.BBC Scotland: “About 75,000 acres (30,351ha) of rain-soaked woodlands on the west coast are designated Atlantic rainforest because of the rare oceanic plant life.”
- SupportedThe forest is home to hundreds of species, including glow worms, slime moulds and rare lichens.BBC Scotland: “The forest has been found to be home to hundreds of species including glow worms, slime moulds and rare lichens.”
- SupportedOvergrazing by deer and livestock, invasive plant species and disease are among the threats to surviving woodland.BBC Scotland: “Overgrazing by deer and livestock, invasive plant species and disease are among the threats to the surviving areas of woodland.”
- SupportedCaroline Clark, Scotland director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said Scotland’s rainforest was internationally significant but largely unknown.BBC Scotland: “Caroline Clark, Scotland director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said Scotland's rainforest was internationally significant but largely unknown.”
- SupportedClark said, “A 2025 survey found fewer than one in three people even know it exists.”BBC Scotland: “She said: "A 2025 survey found fewer than one in three people even know it exists."”
- SupportedClark said the investment recognises that the rainforest’s future and that of many west-coast communities are closely linked, and that both can thrive with the right support.BBC Scotland: “"This major investment, using funds raised by National Lottery players, recognises that the future of our rainforest and the future of many west coast communities are closely linked. With the right support, both can thrive."”
- SupportedJulie Stoneman of Plantlife said the project could create more than 20 jobs and 15 trainee posts.BBC Scotland: “Julie Stoneman, Saving Scotland's Rainforest Programme manager at the charity Plantlife, said it was hoped the project could create more than 20 jobs and 15 trainee posts.”
