Efforts to restore endangered wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout populations at Grosvenor’s Reay Forest Estate, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland, were boosted by the planting of 72,000 native trees – the first of a planned million – helping to regenerate the land and support a landscape, ecosystem- wide conservation project.

The native trees – a diverse mix of species that were grown in the UK and sourced from local nurseries in Scotland – were planted across 80 hectares of the estate, restocking and returning the land to a near- natural state.

A protective fence, installed to reduce deer grazing pressure and the first of four enclosures that will eventually cover a combined area of almost 27 sq km, will encourage natural regeneration over a wider area totalling 114 hectares.

The planted area is also one of three management units within Project Laxford, a 10-year partnership with conservation charity Atlantic Salmon Trust, which aims to restore 118 sq km of the landscape, enhancing biodiversity and benefitting wild Atlantic salmon.