The wild transformation of Mar Lodge Estate – Lottery Good Causes (original) (raw)

It was thanks to a significant contribution of over £10 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with support from private donors, National Trust Scotland was able to secure this magnificent estate.

As we approach the National Lottery’s 30th birthday, Shaila Rao, Conservation Manager at Mar Lodge Estate, shares how vital funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has had a significant impact on Scottish wildlife.

Nestled in the Cairngorms, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve is one of Scotland’s most ecologically diverse areas. It has been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland since 1995 and has played host to a series of remarkable projects in conservation and biodiversity.

It was thanks to a significant contribution of over £10 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with support from private donors like the Easter Charitable Trust, that the Trust was able to secure this magnificent estate. The property covers more than 29,000 hectares of astonishing Scottish landscape: heather-covered moorland, Caledonian pine forest, towering mountains and the Quoich wetlands. Its acquisition marked a turning point for our charity, enabling us to launch large-scale conservation and restoration projects to safeguard the estate’s landscapes and biodiversity for future generations. Furthermore, a portion of the funding was set aside as an endowment to fund long-term maintenance and support ongoing conservation efforts.

“Peatland restoration is about more than just conserving a habitat; it’s about tackling climate change head-on. By restoring these areas, we’re improving carbon storage and helping the land heal faster than we expected.”

As we now approach the National Lottery’s 30th birthday, we are grateful that we were one of the first organisations to receive funding of this nature from the National Lottery. Since the first draw in 1994, over £49 billion has been raised for good causes and awarded through more than 690,000 individual grants. Thanks to National Lottery players, support has been given to a vast array of projects, ranging from strengthening local communities and powering sports teams to unlocking creative talent and supporting environmental projects such as those at Mar Lodge.

What does the National Trust for Scotland do?

Since 1931, we’ve pioneered public access to and shared ownership of some of the most magnificent buildings, collections and habitats in Scotland. We care for ancient houses, battlefields, castles, mills, gardens, coastlines, islands, mountain ranges and all the communities, plants and animals which depend upon them.

Culzean Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Glencoe National Nature Reserve, St Kilda, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve, Culloden, Bannockburn and Ben Lomond are among the jewels that are familiar to anyone who has ever lived in or visited Scotland. These places mean so much to so many people. From the simple fun and happiness of taking the children around a country park, the exhilaration of being alone with only the sounds of the sea and the birds, and the quiet contemplation of great historical events to experiencing simple insights into the daily routines of lives once lived.

Together, the places and objects in our care tell the stories of Scotland and the Scots: how our people travelled and interacted with the wider world, taking with them their energy and values and returning with new ideas and treasures. Without our involvement, many of these places and things would have been lost forever to the damage caused by time, tide, climate, voracious pests and developers.

Article posted: 08/10/2024