Scottish Wildlife Trust
A Scottish conservation charity protecting wildlife, habitats and natural ecosystems across Scotland.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a registered conservation charity dedicated to protecting Scotland’s wildlife and natural environment. Established in 1964, it works across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments through land management, species recovery, community engagement, environmental education, research and public-policy advocacy. It is one of the 46 regional Wildlife Trusts operating across the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies. The Trust’s stated vision is a network of healthy and resilient ecosystems on land and sea that benefits both Scotland’s wildlife and its people. Its conservation model combines direct management of important habitats with broader efforts to influence land-use decisions, legislation, marine policy and public attitudes. The organization also aims to give communities practical ways to participate in conservation and to experience nature close to where they live. The Trust acquired its first wildlife reserve in 1966 and has subsequently developed a network of approximately 100 reserves throughout Scotland. These sites protect a wide range of habitats, including woodlands, wetlands, coastal areas, islands, lochs, river systems and species-rich grasslands. Among the better-known reserves are Bemersyde Moss, Handa Island, the Falls of Clyde, Montrose Basin, Loch Fleet, Loch of the Lowes and Pease Dean. Visitor centres at Loch of the Lowes in Perth and Kinross, Montrose Basin in Angus and the Falls of Clyde in South Lanarkshire provide opportunities for public learning and nature tourism as well as supporting conservation work. A significant part of the Trust’s work is delivered through collaborative projects. Cumbernauld Living Landscape seeks to restore and connect urban greenspaces while helping residents improve access to nature. Riverwoods promotes a Scotland-wide network of river woodlands and healthier river systems, linking biodiversity restoration with flood protection, water quality and fisheries. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels combines community sightings, monitoring and management to protect native red squirrels from competition and disease associated with grey squirrels. The Ayrshire Nectar Network develops connected pollinator habitats through wildflower and tree planting in North and South Ayrshire. The Trust also operates Living Seas, a programme focused on marine conservation, community involvement and public advocacy. Its Oceans of Value project, conducted from 2019 to 2024, explored the many benefits people derive from Orkney’s marine environment, including food, employment, recreation, wellbeing, carbon storage and biodiversity. From 2025, the Sea the Connection project has focused on increasing ocean literacy and helping coastal communities contribute their experience to marine-policy discussions. The organization has also played a notable role in species reintroduction. It was a lead partner in the trial reintroduction of Eurasian beavers to Scotland, which began at Knapdale in 2009 and ran until 2014. The beaver was subsequently granted native species status in Scotland in 2016. In addition to field conservation, the Trust uses communications, competitions and cultural activity to deepen public connections with nature. Its Words of the Wild competition, first held in 2024, invites original writing about Scotland’s wildlife and wild places in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic. The Trust is supported by members, donations, grants, partnerships and project funding. As of February 2026, it reported more than 40,000 members. Its role extends beyond reserve ownership: it seeks to challenge or influence legislation, support evidence-based conservation, strengthen local participation and promote long-term ecological resilience across Scotland.
History
The Scottish Wildlife Trust was established in 1964 as a Scotland-wide organization devoted to conserving wildlife and natural habitats. Its development reflected the growing recognition that species protection required more than isolated scientific studies or voluntary observation: important sites needed active management, public support and long-term institutional stewardship. The Trust’s early work helped create a dedicated Scottish vehicle for acquiring, protecting and interpreting wildlife sites. A major early milestone came in 1966, when the Trust acquired its first wildlife reserve. Reserve ownership and management became a defining part of its operating model. Over subsequent decades, the organization expanded its holdings and management responsibilities into a network of approximately 100 reserves across Scotland. These reserves cover varied ecological settings, from wetlands and woodlands to coastal habitats, islands, river corridors and lochs. They serve both as refuges for wildlife and as places where visitors can learn about and experience nature. The Trust’s work gradually broadened from individual reserves to landscape-scale conservation. Instead of treating protected sites as isolated islands, it increasingly supported ecological connections between habitats, restoration of degraded systems and cooperation with landowners, local authorities, community organizations and other conservation bodies. This approach is visible in projects such as Riverwoods, which promotes connected riparian woodland and healthy river systems, and Cumbernauld Living Landscape, which links urban greenspace restoration with community wellbeing and access to nature. Species recovery has also been central to the Trust’s history. The organization was a lead partner in the trial reintroduction of Eurasian beavers to Scotland. The Knapdale trial began in 2009 and continued until 2014, generating experience about the ecological and practical implications of restoring a species that had been absent from Scotland for centuries. The beaver was granted native species status in 2016. The Trust has also contributed to the protection of red squirrels through monitoring, public reporting and management designed to reduce the effects of invasive grey squirrels, which compete with red squirrels and may transmit squirrelpox. Marine conservation became another substantial area of activity. Through Living Seas, the Trust has worked on community engagement and advocacy relating to Scotland’s seas and marine wildlife. The Oceans of Value project in Orkney, running from 2019 to 2024, documented the broad range of benefits associated with marine ecosystems, including food, jobs, recreation, wellbeing, carbon capture and biodiversity. Its successor activity, Sea the Connection, began in 2025 with a focus on ocean literacy and enabling coastal communities to contribute their knowledge to marine-policy processes. Alongside practical conservation, the Trust has sought to influence legislation and public decision-making where these affect wildlife and ecosystems. It also invests in public participation, environmental learning and cultural engagement. The Words of the Wild competition, introduced in 2024 for the Trust’s 60th anniversary, uses nature writing in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic to encourage people to articulate personal connections with Scotland’s wildlife and wild places. By February 2026, the Scottish Wildlife Trust reported more than 40,000 members. It remains an active Scottish conservation charity operating through reserves, partnerships, projects, advocacy and public engagement. Its identity is closely associated with the protection of Scotland’s natural heritage and with the wider Wildlife Trust movement in the United Kingdom.
- 2025
Sea the Connection begins
[1]The Living Seas team began a project intended to increase ocean literacy and strengthen coastal participation in marine-policy discussions.
- 2024
Sixtieth anniversary and Words of the Wild
[1]The Trust marked 60 years of activity and introduced its annual nature-writing competition in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic.
- 2019
Oceans of Value begins
[1]The Trust’s Orkney-based Oceans of Value project began examining the ecological, economic, social and cultural benefits of the marine environment.
- 2016
Beaver receives native species status
[1]Eurasian beavers were granted native species status in Scotland following the reintroduction experience and subsequent policy process.
- 2014
Knapdale beaver trial concludes
[1]The Scottish beaver reintroduction trial at Knapdale ended after five years of field work and monitoring.
- 2009
Knapdale beaver reintroduction trial begins
[1]The Trust became a lead partner in a trial reintroduction of Eurasian beavers at Knapdale in western Scotland.
- 1966
First wildlife reserve acquired
[1]The organization acquired its first wildlife reserve, establishing reserve ownership as a core part of its conservation model.
- 1964
Scottish Wildlife Trust established
[1]The Trust was founded as a Scotland-wide conservation charity focused on wildlife and the natural environment.
Products and positioning
A Scotland-focused, science-informed conservation charity that combines ownership and management of nature reserves with landscape-scale restoration, species recovery, marine advocacy and community participation.
Nature reserves and visitor experiences · 1966
Scottish wildlife reserve network
The Trust manages approximately 100 wildlife reserves across Scotland. The network includes habitats such as wetlands, woodlands, lochs, islands, river corridors and coastal sites. Reserves protect important species and ecosystems while providing places for conservation research, environmental education and public access. Visitor centres at Loch of the Lowes, Montrose Basin and the Falls of Clyde extend this work through interpretation, guided experiences and opportunities for people to engage with local wildlife.
Species conservation
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels
This conservation programme supports native red squirrels through community involvement, public sightings and structured monitoring of red and grey squirrel populations. It addresses competition from grey squirrels and the risk of squirrelpox transmission. The programme combines field data, local participation and practical management to identify important red-squirrel areas and improve conditions for their long-term survival across Scotland.
River and woodland restoration
Riverwoods
Riverwoods is a partnership initiative seeking to establish a connected network of river woodlands and healthier river systems across Scotland. Its work includes sharing restoration science, supporting landowners, identifying evidence gaps, showcasing effective practice and exploring financing models capable of enabling restoration at scale. Expected benefits include stronger biodiversity, improved water quality, healthier fisheries and greater natural flood protection.
Marine conservation and advocacy
Living Seas
Living Seas is the Trust’s marine-focused programme, combining community engagement, ocean education and advocacy for Scotland’s seas and marine wildlife. The programme has supported work on the social and ecological value of marine environments and seeks to bring the knowledge of coastal residents and maritime workers into policy discussions. It is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Urban nature restoration
Cumbernauld Living Landscape
Cumbernauld Living Landscape works to restore greenspaces and improve connections between habitats and communities in Cumbernauld. Activities have included Living Windows and Creating Natural Connections, which aim to improve wildlife habitat, access to green areas, contact with nature, health and wellbeing. Nurturing Natural Connections is led by the Trust with North Lanarkshire Council, The Conservation Volunteers and Sanctuary Scotland, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Pollinator habitat restoration
Ayrshire Nectar Network
The Ayrshire Nectar Network connects nectar- and pollen-rich habitats across North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. Working with community groups, the project creates pollinator highways through the planting of suitable trees and wildflowers. Its purpose is to improve habitat continuity for pollinating insects while giving local communities a practical role in restoring biodiversity close to home.
Nature-writing competition · 2024
Words of the Wild
Words of the Wild is an annual competition for original writing about Scotland’s wildlife and wild places. It accepts forms such as poetry and personal narrative and includes adult and junior categories in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic. The competition was introduced in 2024 as part of the Trust’s sixtieth-anniversary activity, using literature and language to encourage public engagement with nature.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Words of the Wild
Scotland
The Trust launched a multilingual nature-writing competition to celebrate its sixtieth anniversary and invite original public reflections on Scotland’s wildlife and wild places.
Outcome. The competition established adult and junior awards across English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic and was intended to continue annually.
- 2019Oceans of Value
Orkney · Scotland
This project examined the different values people place on the marine environment, including food, employment, recreation, wellbeing, carbon capture and biodiversity.
Outcome. The project ran from 2019 to 2024 and produced a broader basis for discussing the importance of marine ecosystems.
- 2009Eurasian Beaver Reintroduction Trial
Scotland
The Trust was a lead partner in the Knapdale trial to reintroduce Eurasian beavers to Scotland. The project ran until 2014 and contributed to the later recognition of the beaver as a native Scottish species.
Outcome. The trial concluded in 2014, and beavers received native species status in Scotland in 2016.
Brand decisions
2025
Prioritize coastal participation through Sea the ConnectionStrategyBackground
The Trust identified barriers that can prevent people who live or work around the sea from participating in discussions about Scotland’s marine environment.
Action taken
Living Seas began Sea the Connection to improve ocean literacy and help coastal communities bring their experience into marine-policy conversations.
Aftermath
The initiative became part of the Trust’s continuing marine engagement and advocacy work.
2016
Support native status for reintroduced beaversStrategyBackground
The Knapdale beaver trial provided evidence and practical experience concerning the ecological role and management of Eurasian beavers in Scotland.
Action taken
The Trust continued supporting the conservation case for beaver restoration and native-species recognition.
Aftermath
The beaver was granted native species status in Scotland in 2016.
Recent events
- 2026
Scottish Wildlife Trust reports more than 40,000 members[1]
Other
The organization’s reported membership exceeded 40,000 as of February 2026, reflecting its continuing public-support base for wildlife conservation in Scotland.
- 2025
Sea the Connection expands the Trust’s marine-community work[1]
Other
The Living Seas team began Sea the Connection to improve ocean literacy and help people living or working around Scotland’s coasts participate more effectively in discussions about marine policy.
- 2024
Scottish Wildlife Trust marks its 60th anniversary with Words of the Wild competition[1]
Campaign
The Trust launched its Words of the Wild nature-writing competition as part of activity marking six decades of conservation. The competition accepts original writing about Scotland’s wildlife and wild places and recognizes adult and junior entries in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic.
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