Rewilded farms, crofts and woodlands in Scotland have seen the number of bird species rise by 261% and breeding territories by 546%, The Scotsman reports. The survey, led by Dr Ross Macleod of Liverpool John Moores University with support from SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, looked at 11 sites in the Northwoods Rewilding Network.
The gains go well beyond birds. Butterfly and bumblebee diversity doubled, nectar-rich plants rose by 250% and the abundance of pollinating insects increased around tenfold. Cuckoos and woodcock are now relatively common at some sites, and the red-listed spotted flycatcher has been recorded.
The wider network spans around 100 properties and more than 31,500 acres. Rewilding officer Aidan Maccormick said the results show that restoring nature can sit alongside viable businesses, from food production to tourism.
Source: The Scotsman