Selkirk, Scotland – 3rd February 2025
An ambitious rewilding plan to transform the historic 160-acre Haining estate in Selkirk into a nature-rich “living classroom” to benefit the local community is to be developed following an award of £10,426 to charity Bright Green Nature from the Rewilding Britain Innovation Fund.
The project will mark a significant step forward for nature recovery action in the Scottish Borders by restoring local biodiversity, creating thriving natural habitats, and engaging the community in an inspiring environmental initiative.
In close collaboration with the residents of Selkirk and the wider Scottish Borders, Bright Green Nature will work hand-in-hand with local schools, inviting students to take an active role in generating essential data for the rewilding project.
Through hands-on learning and environmental stewardship, students will gain valuable experience and knowledge about biodiversity, habitat restoration, and ecological data collection.
The data gathered will form the foundation for rewilding activities at the Haining estate and Bright Green Nature’s own site, the neighbouring Deer Park – enhancing local ecological health and helping to monitor progress over time.
“We are honoured to receive this grant from Rewilding Britain and are excited to work with the local community to explore how we can enhance these much-loved landscapes for nature,” said Dr Karen Blackport, Bright Green Nature.
“Our hope is to create a vibrant, biodiverse space that serves as a living classroom for local schools and an enduring benefit to the whole community. Bright Geen Nature is a rewilding charity which works exclusively at the community level in all that we do, and we believe passionately that local culture and heritage is a key part of both protecting and restoring local natural places”.
The details of the rewilding plans will develop through the project’s community consultation, but it is envisaged that this may involve introducing more standing water into the landscapes, native hedgerow and woodland restoration and restoring ancient wildflower meadows.
Micheel Ballantyne, CEO of the Haining Charitable Trust said: “This project represents a unique opportunity to create a living, learning landscape that offers opportunities for local residents to connect deeply with our local built and natural heritage.
“By exploring the potential for a rewilding approach, Bright Green Nature, the Haining estate and Rewilding Britain are taking vital steps toward addressing climate and biodiversity challenges at a local level.”
With Scotland one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries, Bright Green Nature is urging people to sign the Scottish Rewilding Alliance’s Rewilding Nation Charter at www.rewild.scot/charter – calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation, committing to nature recovery across 30% of land and sea.
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About Bright Green Nature:
Bright Green Nature is a charity dedicated to the rewilding and preservation of healthy functioning ecosystems and the promotion of sustainable land stewardship. Through community-driven projects and educational programmes, Bright Green Nature works to restore natural spaces for the benefit of future generations. Visit www.brightgreennature.org for more information, or email karen@brightgreennature.org.
About Rewilding Britain:
Rewilding Britain is a charity that champions rewilding – the large-scale restoration of nature and its remarkable web of life. Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, while creating a cascade of benefits for people and local communities and reconnecting people with the natural world. Rewilding Britain influences policy, inspires public action and catalyses joined-up practical action to help establish rewilding and major nature recovery across at least 30% of Britain’s land and sea by 2030.
The Rewilding Innovation Fund was established in 2021 as a result of the rapidly growing thirst for information, advice, evidence, and funding to integrate rewilding into the way our land and seas are managed. The twice-yearly fund is awarded to innovative projects seeking to create new opportunities for large-scale nature restoration at a time when the potential of nature-based solutions to address the climate and biodiversity crises is becoming increasingly recognised. For more information visit the Rewilding Innovation Fund webpage.
