In June, the Cairngorms National Park Authority awarded £300,000 to 14 businesses and community groups through its 2026 Climate Adaptation Fund, supporting immediate and positive action to address the challenges of climate change in the National Park.

The successful projects will receive between £3,463 and £60,882 and projects include flood bank restoration and riparian planting and the purchase of wildfire management and fire-fighting equipment.

The 2026 fund was significantly oversubscribed, with the Park Authority receiving applications totalling £725,000 in projects, against the £300,000 available. The panel had to make tough decisions to select the strongest proposals, balancing impact, deliverability and geographic spread across the National Park.

Firefighting equipment and machinery is being funded on land and estates across the National Park from Rothiemurchus to Rottal and Glen Tanar to Atholl. In addition, river restoration projects are slowing the flow along the upper Dee.

Grant Moir, Chief Executive at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “We know that the people who live and work here in the National Park care passionately about it, so it’s no surprise that we received an overwhelming number of well-thought-out project ideas for this year’s fund. 

“The successful recipients of this fund were chosen and informed in June, but we took the decision to delay the public announcement for a few weeks in light of the Glenmore and Strath Nethy wildfire. The vast majority of the projects funded focus on wildfire mitigation and management which, as we’ve seen, is one of the greatest threats to the National Park’s communities and natural environment. I’m pleased that this fund will go towards helping communities, businesses and landowners adapt to our changing climate, in particular tackling the threat of wildfire.”

Applicants had to demonstrate how their proposals would contribute to climate adaptation within the National Park and help deliver the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, through nature-based solutions and green engineering that support habitat and species recovery, while maximising sustainable local employment and economic activity.

The 2026 Climate Adaptation Fund is the latest in a series of measures within the Cairngorms National Park to address issues relating to our changing climate, particularly wildfire mitigation and management. Over the past three years, the Park Authority has distributed approximately £940,000 to landowners, farmers and other businesses for practical, on-the-ground solutions for climate adaptation projects. 

This investment, alongside the UK’s first Integrated Wildfire Management Plan, complements the seasonal fire byelaw which came into force across the Cairngorms National Park in April 2026. The byelaw bans campfires and barbecues in the National Park between April and September each year, with a maximum fine of £500.

The 2026 Climate Adaptation Fund recipients are:

1. Rottal Estate. Firefighting machinery, £16,950
2. Rothiemurchus Estate. Firefighting machinery and equipment, £12,920
3. Duncan G Grant Ltd. Firefighting machinery, £23,183.08
4. Ardverikie Estate. Fire fogging unit, £5,000
5. Highland Wildlife Park Royal Zoological Society Scotland. Firefighting equipment, £3,463
6. Glenbeg Estate. Firefighting equipment, £10,315.83
7. Atholl Estates. Firefighting machinery, £34,155
8. Balmoral Estate. Firefighting equipment, £8,950
9. Mar Estate. Firefighting machinery and & equipment, £18,775
10. Wildland Nature Ltd. Firefighting machinery, £14,460
11. Glen Tanar Estate. Firefighting equipment, £12,428
12. Cairngorms Connect. PPE and Firefighting equipment, £15,000
13. The National Trust for Scotland. Leaky Dams upper Dee Catchment. £15,240
14. Dee District Salmon Fishery Board. Slow the Flow on Aultonrea Burn, £60,882