Do you have a casual £18 million sitting around? No? Well, someone did – and they just did something pretty damn incredible with it.
A mystery benefactor, whose identity remains completely unknown, has gifted an eye-watering £17.5 million to the Scottish Wildlife Trust to purchase the vast Inverbroom Estate in the Scottish Highlands. No press conferences, no named plaques – just a silent commitment to Scotland’s wild places.
Whoever they are, their donation – the largest in the Trust’s 60-year history – ensures that this breathtaking landscape will be protected and restored for generations to come.
Spanning 7,618 hectares – an area larger than the city of Dundee – the estate lies about eight miles south of Ullapool in the Ross & Cromarty district. It’s bordered by the Broom and Cuileig rivers, and encompasses ancient woodlands, peatlands, farmland, and lochs, such as the 2.5-mile-long Loch a’ Bhraoin, and two Munros: A’ Chailleach and Sgurr Breac.
Historically, the estate was owned in the 19th century by Sir John Fowler, the chief engineer of the Forth Bridge, who designed two bridges on the property.
This stunning yet ecologically fragile landscape will now become a beacon for rewilding and sustainable land management in Scotland.
Jo Pike, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, expressed the organisation’s gratitude:
“We are absolutely delighted that all of this has been made possible thanks to a private donor who is passionate about the difference that Inverbroom will be able to make in tackling the nature and climate crises. It’s the biggest donation in the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s 60-year history.”
A Future for Nature at Inverbroom
The Scottish Wildlife Trust has ambitious plans for Inverbroom. Their vision includes:
- Regenerating ancient river woodlands and temperate rainforests with native species
- Restoring peatlands to combat climate change and support biodiversity (71% of the site is peatland, 20% of which is degraded)
- Enforcing deer management practices
- Removing invasive species such as the Rhododendron
- Encouraging the return of iconic wildlife like pine martens and wood warblers
- Supporting habitats for a wide range of mosses, lichens, and fungi
- Working with local farmers to integrate sustainable agricultural practices
Crucially, the Trust has committed not to sell carbon credits to fund this work, ensuring the focus remains on genuine conservation rather than commercial offsetting. This aligns with (and was likely influenced by) the donor’s vision for genuine ecological restoration.
Local farmers have also shown their support. Scott Renwick, whose family has farmed at Inverbroom for three generations, said: “We as a family are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Our grandfather moved to Inverbroom in 1933, so the family have had a knowledge of the land for 92 years. There is an incredible diversity of wildlife on the estate.“
A Turning Point for Scottish Conservation
The purchase of Inverbroom is more than just the protection of one estate – it’s proof of what’s possible when bold conservation efforts align with extraordinary generosity and strategic funding. Whether through a single benefactor or a collective movement, securing land for nature is not just an idealistic dream but a tangible, achievable way to safeguard our wild places.
While the mystery donor’s identity remains unknown, there’e no doubt that their legacy will live on in every tree that regrows, every species that returns, and every wild place that thrives across the estate. Bravo!