The Cairngorm Capital Foundation
The Cairngorm Capital Foundation was established in 2021 by Cairngorm Capital’s partners, as a way for us to support the causes about which we are most passionate and to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate.
Our firm’s Scottish heritage naturally draws us to projects that focus on protecting and restoring the landscape and wild habitats of the Scottish Highlands but we are always on the lookout for initiatives elsewhere in the country that align with our ethos and values.
The Foundation’s most recent activities include:
The Foundation’s impact in 2022
Partnership between the Foundation and Scotland the Big Picture resulted in several rewilding initiatives across the National Park in 2022
Northwoods Rewilding Network
- ‘Seed islands’ – small fenced enclosures protecting 100 native trees in each, that are rare in the landscape due to their palatability to grazing animals. This will help accelerate the expansion of native woodland, lock away carbon and return wildlife to the landscape.
- Leaky dams – wood structures located in watercourses that act like beaver dams, holding back water and forming ponds and wet grasslands that benefit insects, fish and amphibians, while reducing the risk of downstream flooding.
- River restoration – historically many of Scotland’s rivers have been straightened, reducing their biological complexity and speeding the flow of water. Re-meandering these watercourses to their natural channels creates a habitat for declining species, such as Atlantic salmon and reduces the risk of flooding.
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Cairngorms Cranes
Returning native species to our ecosystems is a key part of SBP’s work, and the Cairngorms Cranes project seeks to reintroduce a breeding population of Eurasian cranes to the National Park for the first time in 500 years, restoring a missing piece of the Park’s ecology.
The Foundation supported the completion of the project’s one-year development phase, which involved all the ecological, social and legal assessments necessary to reintroduce a native species.
Riverwoods
Three years in the making, Riverwoods is a spectacular feature-length documentary that shines a light on the perilous state of Scotland’s Atlantic salmon. A key objective for the Riverwoods screening tour was to engage with those in a position to effect change – land managers, policymakers and local communities.
With Cairngorm Capital’s support, SBP were able to host a significant screening in the Cairngorms National Park, attended by more than 500 people. Significant river restoration work has been catalysed and accelerated as a result.
The route forward – “Wild Water”
Throughout 2023-24, the Foundation’s support will focus on and reflect its long-term commitment to supporting the expansion and enrichment of river and wetland ecosystems, delivering benefits to climate, nature and people.
Climate
By restoring natural wetland habitats and planting new river woodlands, both of which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, The Wild Water Project is able to reduce the impact of a changing climate.
Nature
Healthy rivers are able to support greater populations of key species such as Atlantic salmon, while the expansion of wetlands and the reintroduction of missing native species like beavers and cranes, will help restore the functionality of our ecosystems.
People
A nature-rich Scotland is good for people. Creating more space for water will reduce the risk of flooding, drought and wildfires. River woodlands and restored peatlands will help clean air and improve water quality, while a landscape full of life provides endless opportunities to enhance our wellbeing.
Woodland Wheels
Professional pump track in the Cairngorms National Park
Development of a free-for-all, state of the art mountain bike track in a woodland setting is a perfect example of community enhancing projects Cairngorm Capital Foundation is proud to support.
The track provides a safe place for riders of all ages to exercise, whilst interacting with wildlife in a spectacular natural surroundings. Open to the public since 2022, the pump track is the first of its kind in the Highlands and caters not only for cyclists, but also skaters and e-bikers.
The track now hosts a whole array of events including “Race The Worlds” North region qualifying race
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Our Rewilding Journey
Braving the elements, Cairngorm Capital’s team of volunteers travelled to the depths of the Northwoods rewilding reserve to experience first-hand the achievements of our partner charity Scotland The Big Picture and their collaborators.
Over three enjoyable and learning-filled days, we had the opportunity to observe the changing landscape of the Glenfeshie Estate. In recent years, native woodland has been regenerating at pace, creating a welcoming environment for countless previously absent species;
A hike into Glenfeshie Estate
A place once affiliated with large scale deforestation is now regenerating rapidly, offering visitors a glimpse of how the Scottish Highlands may look like once again, if nature is given a chance to thrive.
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Getting a different viewpoint
We climbed up a steep forest path to take in the majestic views of the re-forested valley below, forming part of Cairngorms Connect restoration project. It’s a vast area covering 230 sq miles and created through a partnership of neighbouring, like-minded land managers dedicated to a long-term vision of enhancing habitats and species within the Cairngorms National Park.
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Against the odds
We enjoyed an al fresco lunch break on the edges of River Truim, cheering on Scotland’s Atlantic salmon, the “King of Fish”, making their way up the choppy waterfalls. We learned about the perilous journey each one of them must take each year to ensure the species’ survival.
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Putting down new roots
Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for arrived, as we spent our last morning planting native trees – a mix of the early pioneer woodland established and supported by the Cairngorm Capital Foundation.
In less than 2 hours, nearly 50 young saplings were safely deposited in the soil, which to our enthusiastic group seemed like a great result. We plan to return regularly to see the progress as our saplings mature. A few additional trips will be required to match that of our guide and local ranger Mark, with more than 7000 trees already planted and thriving at his Northwood site.
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Our re-wilding journey was organised for us and guided by Peter Cairns and SCOTLAND: The Big Picture.
The Cairngorms (Scottish Gaelic: Am Monadh Ruadh) are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain of the same name—Cairn Gorm (Gaelic: An Càrn Gorm, meaning Blue or Green Hill). They form part of the Grampian Mountain range.
The Cairngorms feature the highest, coldest and snowiest plateaux in the British Isles and are home to five of the six highest mountains in the UK:
• Ben Macdui (1309 m)
• Braeriach (1296 m)
• Cairn Toul (1293 m)
• Sgor an Lochain Uaine (1258 m)
• Cairn Gorm (1245 m)
Cairngorm Capital’s motifs are inspired by the flowing contour lines of these ancient mountains and by the colours of the heather, granite, forests and lochs that illuminate the rugged landscape.
