Carrifran Wildwood
Background
The Wildwood project was conceived at the time of the first Restoring Borders Woodland conference, organised by Peeblesshire Environment Concern in 1993. The vision was to restore the ecology of one entire catchment in the Southern Uplands of Scotland to approximately the state it would have been in before people began practicing settled agriculture, about six thousand years ago.
The project was carried forward by the grass-roots Wildwood Group, formed in autumn 1995 and comprising about 40 people, mainly from around Peebles. Members helped to form Borders Forest Trust at the start of 1996 and four years later organised purchase of the Carrifran valley, with funds raised by public subscription, mainly from more than 600 Founders of Carrifran Wildwood. An informal association with the John Muir Trust was a key catalyst in the fundraising process.
Carrifran Wildwood became an important element in BFT's activities and one of its most ambitious ecological restoration projects. The Wildwood project has, however, retained a slightly devolved character, with heavy dependence on volunteers as well as on BFT staff, and on donations from the public through a Stewardship Scheme as well as on grant aid from organisations such as the Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage and the national lottery via the Millennium Forest for Scotland Trust.
The project is overseen by the Wildwood Steering Group, which includes key volunteers, while day-to-day management is led by the Site Operations Team comprising the Project Officer, the BFT Director and the volunteer Project Co-ordinator. The Carrifran Project Officer, appointed when Carrifran was purchased and supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, oversees fencing and planting contracts and organises all work on site.
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