Project to restore Scotland’s ‘precious’ rainforest gets £6m in lottery funding

A project to help restore Scotland’s “internationally significant” rainforest while supporting rural communities has received nearly £6 million in lottery funding.

Our Rainforest Futures will see “rainforest guardians” created across Scotland’s west coast, through hubs at Torridon and Morvern in the Highlands, and at mid-Argyll in Argyll and Bute.

The five-year project will see local people gain skills, training and work opportunities while helping restore one of Britain’s rarest habitats, in areas already facing population decline and workforce shortages.

Scotland’s rainforest supports internationally important lichens, mosses and liverworts (Laura Corbe/PA)

Scotland’s rainforest is a unique habitat of ancient and native woodland, open glades, boulders, crags, ravines and river gorges on the west coast.

These temperate rain-soaked woodlands support internationally important lichens, mosses and liverworts as well as a huge variety of other wildlife.

But despite being one of Britain’s most biodiverse habitats, only around 30,000 hectares remain and they are threatened by overgrazing, invasive species and habitat loss.

Led by the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest, the project has now been supported with £5.98 million of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Caroline Clark, the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Scotland director, said: “Scotland’s precious rainforest is internationally significant but largely unknown.

“A 2025 survey found fewer than one in three people even know it exists.

“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.”

The project aims to mobilise, train and equip people with the skills and knowledge to be guardians and advocates of Scotland’s temperate rainforest.

It is hoped that doing so will increase awareness of the rainforest, build capacity and expand the available workforce.

Julie Stoneman is Saving Scotland’s Rainforest programme manager at Plantlife, which is one of the project’s partners.

She said: “The people who live and work in the rainforest zone are essential to securing its future.

“Our Rainforest Futures will offer accredited and informal training in skills such as deer management, ecological surveying and invasive species removal.

“It will create more than 20 jobs and 15 traineeships, support community-led projects with grants and advice and provide exciting new opportunities for volunteering and learning.”

Calum Robertson is one of those who has already benefited from the scheme.

He was studying wildlife & conservation management at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) when he joined an Our Rainforest Futures volunteer trip to Torridon in 2025.

“It was a heart-warming experience that left me inspired, helped me gain new skills and introduced me to people working in nature conservation,” he said.

“Soon after, I became employed by Argyll Countryside Trust as a rainforest squad trainee, tasked with tackling invasive species in some of the most remote parts of Scotland’s rainforests.

“This has since developed into a split role as rainforest operative/woodland co-ordinator, involving both management and delivery of rainforest restoration projects.

“It is a dream-turned-reality to do this for a living, and I believe that volunteering with Our Rainforest Futures was key to making that happen.”

As part of the project, SRUC – which is another of the scheme’s partners – will develop and deliver training to help other people in rainforest communities gain the skills needed to restore and protect Scotland’s rainforest.

Our Rainforest Futures is an Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest project led by the Woodland Trust Scotland.

The project’s other partners are Argyll Countryside Trust, Community Woodlands Association, Plantlife and RSPB Scotland.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant provides 72% of the funding needed for Our Rainforest Futures, which has a total budget of £8.3 million.

It is also supported by NatureScot and players of Postcode Lottery.