A five-year project dedicated to restoring Scotland's rare Atlantic rainforest has received almost £6m in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This award will support the establishment of three new hubs in Torridon, Morvern, and mid-Argyll.
The Our Rainforest Futures project will offer local communities training and work opportunities. These will focus on habitat restoration, deer management, and the removal of invasive species. The Torridon hub will involve communities in Kinlochewe, Shieldaig, Lochcarron, Applecross, and Gairloch. In Morvern, the project will include Lochaline, Strontian, and Tobermory in Mull, while mid-Argyll's hub will involve Crinan, Tayvallich, Lochgilphead, Ardrishaig, and Tarbert.
Scotland's Atlantic rainforest, covering about 75,000 acres (30,351ha) of rain-soaked woodlands on the west coast, is designated for its rare oceanic plant life. Threats to these woodlands include overgrazing by deer and livestock, invasive plant species, and disease. The forest is home to hundreds of species, such as glow worms, slime moulds, and rare lichens.
The Our Rainforest Futures project is led by the Woodland Trust Scotland and is an Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest initiative. Partners involved include Argyll Countryside Trust, Community Woodlands Association, Plantlife, RSPB Scotland, and SRUC. Caroline Clark, Scotland director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, noted that a 2025 survey found fewer than one in three people were aware of the rainforest's existence. Julie Stoneman, Saving Scotland's Rainforest Programme manager at Plantlife, expressed hope that the project could create over 20 jobs and 15 trainee posts.