New research published this week has declared Scotland's rewilding movement a resounding success, with bird species on rewilded land surging by 261% and breeding territories increasing by 546% compared to conventionally managed areas — providing some of the strongest evidence yet that rewilding can deliver measurable ecological recovery at scale.
The findings, analysed by Dr Ross Macleod of Liverpool John Moores University, are based on surveys across the Northwoods Rewilding Network — a collection of over 100 landholdings across Scotland coordinated by the charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. Ecologists recorded approximately 1,000 pairs of breeding birds over 120 kilometres of transects at five sites, comparing rewilded areas with adjacent conventionally managed land.
Species of conservation concern that are declining nationally — including spotted flycatcher, common cuckoo, and Eurasian woodcock — were found to be relatively common on Northwoods sites, while willow warblers showed outstanding numbers in rewilding areas. The research also found that bumblebee and butterfly species variety more than doubled, with their abundance increasing over tenfold, and the network's landscapes are estimated to support 2.5 million pollinating insects.
Dr Macleod described the results as "astonishingly clear" and "unambiguous," adding that the findings demonstrated rewilding's effectiveness in increasing biodiversity alongside supporting commercial activities such as farming, tourism, and recreation.
One of the network's flagship sites, Comrie Croft in Perthshire, transformed from a livestock farm and conifer plantation into an ecotourism destination that now attracts 50,000 visitors annually while supporting four times as many birds as before rewilding began.
The Northwoods network, established in 2021, has attracted £4.2 million in local investment and supports dozens of jobs across Scotland. Aidan Maccormick, Northwoods Rewilding Officer, said the results showed that nature recovery and economic activity were not in conflict.
"This is proof that rewilding works," he said. "We're not just restoring nature — we're creating jobs, attracting visitors, and building more resilient rural communities. The evidence is now overwhelming."
