Biodiversity on Dundreggan - First Impressions

Much of our initial work on Dundreggan will consist of surveys, to document and record the range of species and habitat types on the estate, and we're getting these under way this summer (2006). The surveys will provide the baseline data which we require for preparing a comprehensive Management Plan for the conservation and restoration of native woodland and other ecosystems on the estate.

Thanks to a generous grant offer from the Partnership for Rural Inverness and Nairn (PRIN), we've contracted David Barbour to carry out a survey of moths and butterflies there (he did this for us in Glen Affric in 2003). Jane Bowman, who lives further up Glen Moriston, is helping with this, and they have already discovered two moths which are priority species in the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan scheme, thereby adding to the conservation importance of the estate.

Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus). This rare moth is classified as Nationally Scarce, and is a Priority Species in the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan. Our discovery of it on Dundreggan is significant as it is the first record for this species in the 10 km. grid square which the estate is covered by.

White ermine moth (Spilosoma lubricipeda).

A survey of the vegetation communities there will get under way In July and August, and this will also include further mapping of the distribution of dwarf birch (Betula nana) there. Meanwhile, Trees for Life staff, especially Adam and myself, are building up a list of species observed on the estate, to provide an indication of the biological diversity currently present on Dundreggan. One important discovery we've made already is finding a Nationally Scarce pinhead lichen (Phaeocalicium praecedens) there. This tiny lichen, about 1 mm. in size, grows on the twigs of mature aspen trees, and is known from only a few sites in the whole country (we also found it in Glen Affric in 2004). Meanwhile, the photographs here illustrate some of the biodiversity we've already documented on Dundreggan.

Major grant approved by the Tubney Trust!

Our focus on the biological diversity of Dundreggan received a huge boost in late May, when we were informed by the Tubney Charitable Trust that they had approved our grant application to them for up to £365,000 towards the purchase of the estate. This Trust has a particular emphasis on the protection and restoration of wild land for the purpose of protecting and restoring biodiversity, and this is the largest grant we have ever received. It provides all the funding we require to complete Phase 2 of the purchase of Dundreggan, and this means that we now have the finances in place to purchase the entire 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) all at the same time.

The approval of this grant is a wonderful affirmation of our work, and we're very grateful to the Tubney Charitable Trust for this tremendous support.

Funds still needed for Dundreggan Lodge

Part of our funding for the purchase of Dundreggan is being provided by one of our supporters, who is buying Dundreggan Lodge, to enable us to complete the purchase of the entire estate. He is doing this to support us, and needs to get his money back in a year's time, through selling the Lodge, and we'd like to buy it from him.

We envision using the Lodge as accommodation for volunteer groups, both on Dundreggan and elsewhere in Glen Moriston, and we need to raise about £220,000 for this within the next 12 months. If you are inspired to help us with this in any way, please contact our office - we'd love to hear from you!

Alan Watson Featherstone

Primroses flowering in profusion on a hillside near Dundreggan Lodge.

Chickweed wintergreen (Trientalis europaea) in flower.

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Dundreggan