Blended Scotch whisky brand, The Famous Grouse has partnered with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to restore a 300-hectare of Scotland’s natural landscape in Abernethy.
The three-year project aims to restore the natural landscape of the region and promote biodiversity through woodland expansion and peatland restoration.
The project follows on from a decade-long funding partnership that has helped restore the native habitat of the rare black grouse. This successful collaboration saw a 30% increase in black grouse across the RSPB reserves
Joakim Leijon, global brand controller for The Famous Grouse, said: “We’re so excited to embark on this new project with the RSPB, as we strive to protect the natural landscape of the Abernethy region through extensive re-naturalisation work over the course of the next three years.
“Project Abernethy completely aligns with our values of protecting what we see as grouse country as we strive to protect our surrounding environment.”
By using a mix of traditional cattle grazing and mechanical techniques, the project will open up the compacted ground layer of forest vegetation to improve tree regeneration. The process will increase invertebrate, bird and mammal populations in the area.
Richard Mason, RSPB site manager for Abernethy, said: “After 10 years of working together to benefit black grouse, we are delighted to have The Famous Grouse supporting some of our restoration of Abernethy’s rich habitat.
“This conservation work will have positive outcomes for a wide variety of species and will help to ensure that the magnificent landscape is safeguarded for the future.”
According to the RSPB, approximately half of all peatland habitats in Scotland are damaged to some degree, leading to it drying out over time and releasing carbon into the atmosphere. The re-profiling of the land during the project will help to restore the peatland to its natural condition, mitigating damage caused by over-grazing and draining.
For more information on The Famous Grouse, go to thefamousgrouse.com