Oxbury Bank at Rottal phase 3

This third woodland creation project on Rottal Estate is significant due to its reliance on natural regeneration to establish native trees. Focusing on two distinct areas, this project will see the expansion of an area of birch woodland around Eddie’s loch, just northwest of a previous woodland creation project. Allowing native trees to colonise this ground will help local biodiversity, including the critically endangered Scottish Wildcat, which is known to still inhabit the area. Adjoining a previous woodland creation as it does, this expansion of the birchwood will also increase habitat connectivity on the estate. Further south, the second focus of the project will be on establishing a mixed native willow and alder woodland around the recently restored Rottal burn. These trees will provide multiple riparian benefits, including stabilizing the river banks, providing leaf litter for aquatic invertebrates to feed on and shading the watercourse in the summertime.