Nature recovery

Two men in tweed jackets and flat caps observe the landscape with binoculars. One of the men has a gun slung over his shoulder.

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Core to the success of Cairngorms 2030 is collaboration. This project is working closely with people managing and working the land in the National Park to develop plans that are good for nature and for people.

By working together to identify the issues and barriers to nature recovery on estates and land across the National Park, this project is finding innovative solutions to the challenges we face.

One aspect noted in deer management groups across the Cairngorms was the issue of high deer densities causing significant damage to agricultural infrastructure, spreading disease to livestock and damaging land, including fragile habitats like peatland.

In 2024 through Cairngorms 2030 two farms, Glenkilrie near Blairgowrie and Knockbarry near Pitlochry, were awarded a grant to purchase and manage deer larders, to enable deer culled in and around the National Park to be butchered. A significant proportion of the venison processed – including lean and easy to cook mince, meatballs, burgers, and sausages – is being donated to foodbanks, local schools, and community kitchens. Importantly, to ensure the project becomes financially self-sustaining, venison from the larders is sold to local retail outlets, hotels, and restaurants through already established routes to market forged by the farming businesses involved.

This project is working with land managers to find new and creative solutions that help to to solve critical land management challenges whilst simultaneously benefitting the land, local communities and businesses.