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Famous Grouse initiative preserves Scottish wilderness
Blended Scotch whisky The Famous Grouse has partnered with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to restore a 300-hectare nature reserve in Scotland.
The Famous Grouse and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) will reinstate a site in the village of Abernethy, in Scotland.
The Edrington-owned whisky brand will fund a three-year project, which aims to restore the natural landscape of the region, and promote biodiversity through woodland expansion and peatland restoration.
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.”
The project aims to improve biodiversity in Abernethy via the regeneration of the natural 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.
The Famous Grouse previously celebrated its partnership with the RSPB by releasing a redesigned iteration of its Smoky Black expression.