Rewilding Bac Dubh - Two Years On

In January 2024, we acquired 92 acres at Bac Dubh, Poolewe with the objective of restoring the land for nature. As we mark two years since this initiative began, we would like to provide a community update on our progress.

The property covers approximately 60 acres of flat peatland and 30 acres of steep hillside. During our first two years, we have dedicated a lot of time to surveying the area and seeking professional guidance on its current state and the steps needed to support its recovery.

To further our rewilding efforts, we joined the Northwoods Rewilding Network. Northwoods is a Scotland-wide chain of landholdings convened and coordinated by rewilding charity Scotland: The Big Picture. Its partners are all committed to nature recovery and share a vision for an ecologically restored landscape, where habitats are better connected and species can recover, expand and disperse.

Our long-term objective is to restore Bac Dubh’s biodiversity, transforming it into a vibrant, accessible natural site, including pathways and interpretation boards to enhance visitor experience and engagement.

The bad news

At Bac Dubh, historical peat extraction activities have resulted in the presence of haggs and drainage channels, leading to periodic desiccation of the peatland during the summer months. It is also now known that peat cutting for fuel and drainage for agricultural purposes contribute considerably to carbon emissions, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

A healthy peat bog requires a consistently high water table; however, due to the degraded condition of some areas, the water table at Bac Dubh is very variable and is prone to drying out, which is very damaging for peatland flora and fauna. This also means that the Cliff Burn, a small stream crossing the site, has become deeply incised and silted, damaging the natural river bed.

There is evidence that the hillside once supported significantly greater tree cover, as indicated by the continued presence of woodland understory species. Currently, only about 150 mature trees remain, primarily rowan, birch, hawthorn and holly. The biggest threat to tree regeneration is overgrazing by deer, which are present in unsustainably high numbers.

In addition, several invasive non-native species, including Rhododendron ponticum and Cotoneaster, are present across the site.

The good news

Although parts of the site are in poor condition, we have some positive news: an independent habitat survey revealed that Bac Dubh contains 12 distinct habitats, each supporting its own unique plants and animals - an impressive mosaic for such a small area!

The site boasts over 140 species of vascular plants, rare finds like Wilson’s Filmy-fern, and numerous lichens and bryophytes. Bac Dubh is also home to dragonflies, invertebrates, amphibians, mammals, and an abundance of birds. Notably, many red and amber listed bird species—such as snipe and woodcock—have been observed here. (Red and amber listed species are those facing global threats or significant conservation concerns.)

Importantly, these ecological treasures are not exclusive to Bac Dubh; the surrounding habitat and village area is rich in these and other fascinating flora and fauna that deserve our recognition, respect, and protection. We hope that our work at Bac Dubh will also raise awareness for similar habitats in the whole area.

The Future

Over the past two years, we've learned a great deal about the habitat and its wildlife, and our guiding principle is to let nature take the lead, while also giving it a little support to help repair some of the harm humans have caused. For instance, our strategy for restoring the hillside could simply involve fencing off the entire area from deer and planting trees, but instead, we believe that allowing trees to naturally regenerate means they'll thrive in the most suitable locations. To support this process, we'll install a few small fenced "seed islands" where we'll reintroduce missing tree species like aspen, oak, and hazel. Additionally, we're committed to removing as many invasive species as possible.

Our deer population management strategy involves regulated culling, with select carcasses left on the land to provide sustenance for wildlife and facilitate nutrient cycling within the ecosystem. This method emulates the natural processes that existed when native predators were present. By following this approach, we aim to promote optimal conditions for natural tree regeneration on the hillside.

People often assume we’re going to plant trees across the whole site, but planting trees on the wetland would mean increasing the drainage and artificially changing the ecology – the opposite of what’s required for a healthy mosaic of habitats!

In late 2025, we engaged a consultant geomorphologist and hydrologist to conduct a comprehensive survey of our peatland and the adjacent areas. Based on their recommendations, we’ve developed a plan to construct leaky dams along the Cliff Burn to retain water within the peatland, apply coir matting to stabilise exposed peat, and install coir logs to block drainage channels.

Rewilding is a ‘marathon that starts with a sprint’; however, even early efforts require considerable time and patience. Our approach provides targeted support to facilitate natural processes so they may eventually progress independently.

Getting Involved

Over the past two years, we have organised a few volunteer days. While our initial plan was to establish regular volunteering opportunities, we have found it more effective to recruit volunteers for specific tasks as needed. We will announce future opportunities when assistance is required, and encourage participation. As we anticipate commencing the construction of leaky dams this year, an engaging and valuable activity for all involved, we welcome volunteers to participate in this. If you would like to join our list of volunteers to be notified when we have volunteering opportunities, please .

We regularly host ‘walk and talk’ events at Bac Dubh to showcase our rewilding site and share future plans. These can be booked through our 'safaris' page on the website.

For future updates, follow our blog or our Facebook page, and help spread the word about the positive benefits of rewilding for nature, people and climate. Thank you!