Notes from
the Wild

After 13 years of writing poems for his own amusement in commonplace books, in letters to friends or for delivery in pubs to riotous groups, Burns had finally got enough support to bring out a little published collection of his work; the Kilmarnock Edition as it is now known.

Regeneration at WildLand is not something that exists behind the scenes. It is woven into the fabric of being here from staying in beautifully restored homes to spending time in the wild landscapes. Our guests are not passive observers – they become part of the story.

Across the Highlands, WildLand works with nature over the long term, creating conditions in which landscapes can recover, reconnect and thrive, exactly how nature intended. Regeneration at WildLand is as much about restraint as it is about action.

The golden eagle stands as a potent symbol of Scotland’s majestic wild places. They are large, powerful raptors who play an important role in the delicate balance of natural habitats in the Highlands.

Today is Earth Day—a timely reminder of our connection to the land. For our dedicated team of WildLanders across the Cairngorms, Loch Ness, and Sutherland, this commitment extends far beyond a single day. Their devotion to our 200-year vision of ecological restoration in the Scottish Highlands is woven into their daily lives, shaping not only their work but their way of living.

As we continue to expand, we are looking for passionate individuals to join our hospitality and conservation teams. If you have a love for nature, a commitment to excellence, and a desire to be part of a transformative journey, we invite you to attend one of our upcoming recruitment open days.

Today’s confirmation that the Flow Country has become Scotland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed for its globally important ecosystem has been warmly welcomed by Wildland’s Chief Executive Tim Kirkwood.

Ronan Dugan and Lana Richardson were delighted to represent Wildland as part of the cohort of Cairngorm Connect Team that attend the Nature of Scotland Awards on the 22nd November.

Electrofishing is an effective annual fisheries survey method which is used to determine the densities of different juvenile fish species, focusing primarily on Atlantic salmon, which are endangered.

We were delighted that the recent BBC One programme created by Hamza Yassin, “Hamza : Strictly Birds of Prey” approached Wildland to capture hen harriers within the Cairngorms.

Beavers are a step closer to returning to the Cairngorms National Park with the formal public engagement process getting underway next week. Once completed, the Cairngorms National Park Authority – who are leading on the reintroduction project – will submit a licence application to return this lost species to the Park after an absence of more than 400 years.

After years of extensive preparations by the Saving Wildcats conservation partnership project, the release of 22 wildcats into the Cairngorms National Park began last week as part of landmark efforts to save this charismatic species from extinction within Scotland.

Many of you will have already watched the first episodes of new documentary TV series Wild Isles which was first aired on BBC1 earlier this month. Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, the series showcases different wildlife species from locations across the UK with stunning imagery and remarkable camera footage.