Argyll Countryside Trust

There are still some spaces available for our Aspen root cutting and propagation day next Tuesday 3rd March in Ardpatrick and Lochgilphead. Free to attend! 🌿 Sign up here: forms.office.com/e/muh93Bwhhv

Group of people by peat drain blocked with timber dams, now holding back pooled water across the bog surface.

Wide view of Caladh moorland during peatland restoration, with three excavators working across parallel drainage ditches and newly created peat dams holding water.

Close-up of timber dams installed in a deep peat drain, showing a central notch designed to allow controlled water flow and prevent erosion at the edges.

Coir log installed across a shallow erosion channel on peatland, slowing water flow and trapping peat sediment to support natural regeneration.

325 hectares of blanket bog restored at Caladh, Tighnabruich 🌿
Our latest blog shares reflections from a recent site open day and explains how historic drains have been blocked to slow water movement and support long-term peatland recovery.
Read more: buff.ly/PNAh7cr
📷 Clare Trinder / ACT

🌍 World first for Cardross Primary School
Congratulations to the whole school community on becoming the first Primary School in the world to achieve Carbon Literate Educator status!
Delighted to support this milestone through ABCAN.
Read more here: buff.ly/TPhFc8d
#CarbonLiteracy #ArgyllAndBute

🌿 Aspen propagation day 🌿
Join for part or all of the day. Lift shares available.
Free event. Woodland terrain so good mobility needed.
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Sign up: buff.ly/uDH4mLh
#ScotlandsRainforest

Group of people and a dog in the forest.

Dog with a large stick in it's mouth

North Knapdale site visit this week 🌿

A new potential volunteer site (with 'RhodoDog'!), contractor progress on track, and the Rainforest Squad finishing a section of work in Carsaig.

Encouraging to see restoration happening at landscape scale across this area.

#ScotlandsRainforest

Peatland Action Officer standing with monitoring equipment on a peat bund in a restored peatland gully, with shallow water pooling behind the bund.

It’s #WorldWetlandsDay 🌍

Wetlands store water in dry weather, absorb heavy rain and help filter pollution. They support wildlife and communities.

Our team are at Caladh today for a demonstration day.

Lucy’s on a peat bund, re-wetting a once-eroding gully. More soon!

🎊 Don’t miss your chance to win £1,000 in this weekend’s Super Draw 🎊

By taking part, you’re supporting ACT’s work across Argyll, from restoring rainforest to peatland projects and outdoor learning 💚

A great prize and a great cause.

Get your tickets: bit.ly/4qafykP

A side-on view of a red squirrel perching on a thin tree stump. It has bright orange fur and a long bushy tail curled up over its back. There are small drops of water caught in its tail, and its front paws are holding a piece of food.

Today is #RedSquirrelAppreciationDay! We’re delighted that this coincides with us collecting over A QUARTER OF A MILLION squirrel records. Read more about this fantastic achievement here:

scottishsquirrels.org.uk/2026/01/21/n...

📷 Raymond Leinster

Knapdale Landscape Scale Restoration Project The Knapdale Landscape Scale Restoration Project is currently underway, and we are working with landowners and communities in the area to develop and deliver landscape scale restoration, starting with...

Read more about our work: www.act-now.org.uk/knapdale-lan...

Day in the life of our rainforest team in Tayvallich.

This is what thick Rhododendron ponticum looks like on the ground, and the scale our team are up against in Knapdale.

Link to find out more in the comments.

#ScotlandsRainforest #InvasiveSpecies

If you’re tackling Rhododendron ponticum or Himalayan balsam, this looks really useful. Practical community tips from Scottish Wildlife Trust. 👇

Lichens on Trees Have you ever taken a closer look at the wide range of lichens that grow on the trunks, branches and twigs of trees, and wanted to learn more about what these lichens actually are and why they have…

Want to learn more about lichens in 2026 (and why wouldn't you??) Scottish Lichens are running a series of distance learning courses. The first is lichens on trees

The team from Highland Access are making great progress controlling Rhododendron on steep, rope-access sites.

They’ve been working since December, using techniques like stem injection with promising results.

Supported by the Scottish Government’s #NatureRestorationFund, managed by NatureScot

Two exciting firsts as we head into 2026 🎉
Certificates are back from @carbonliteracy.bsky.social for our new Carbon Literacy, Climate Adaptation and Building Resilience training, plus Carbon Literacy for School Staff delivered across Argyll and Bute 🙌
Interested in training? Comment or DM.

A big thank you for supporting ACT this year.
We hope you get some time to rest, head outdoors and enjoy a bit of nature over the festive break.

📷 Stephen Carter, looking towards Crinan Ferry from Islandadd Bridge

Hermitage Primary took part in Sustainable Christmas as part of an ABCAN project led by Lindsey. Pupils made Christmas tree decorations with no glue or sellotape, so they can be taken apart and recycled. A great way to chat about cutting waste ❤️ 💚

📷 Lindsey Young

Group of people in outdoor clothing in wooden shelter

A group of people with their backs to the camera looking at a tree in a woodland.

Thank you to the 30+ people who gathered at Kilmory from across the west of Scotland to share experiences of tackling Rhododendron ponticum in #ScotlandsRainforest, with great discussion on volunteering, recovery after clearance and next steps.
Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

🌿 Qualified chainsaw operator?
Sub contractor role in Argyll working in a team to restore native biodiversity at one of Scotland’s finest rainforest sites.
Apply: buff.ly/TET2YkF
#ScotlandsRainforest

🎉 You did it!
£6,800 raised with the @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge

Your generosity helps protect #ScotlandsRainforest and support outdoor learning and wellbeing in Argyll.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated or shared the campaign
We’re very grateful 💚

💚 Last chance to double your impact
Final hours of the @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge

Your support helps protect #ScotlandsRainforest and creates more chances for people in Argyll to connect in nature.

Donations doubled until 12pm today
👉 buff.ly/ftDinPj

There’re still a few spaces left for our Rhododendron and the Rainforest session this Thursday at Kilmory. Fancy joining us to learn more about caring for #ScotlandsRainforest and how you can help? Book today 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rhododendr...

🌟Almost there 🌟
We’re in the last stretch of the @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge
Every donation before midday tomorrow is doubled 💚
Help protect Argyll’s rainforest and support more people to get outdoors, learn and build confidence.
👉 buff.ly/6MLczSU
#ScotlandsRainforest

💚 Nature helps us feel better
Support more community wellbeing outdoors in Argyll 🌿
🕒 Donations doubled until midday on Tuesday 9 Dec
👉 buff.ly/6MLczSU
#ChristmasChallenge #DoubleYourDonation

Stick dens, mud pies and big imaginations 🌿
Outdoor learning helps children explore the world, grow their confidence and find joy in nature.
💚Donations doubled until 9 Dec thanks to @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge helping more children learn outside
👉 buff.ly/ftDinPj

Volunteer group in open landscape holding rhododendron that has been removed, hills in background.

Group of people with hands in air, in rainy forest standing behind a large pile of cleared folilage.

Large group of people smiling in woodland clearing with dappled sunlight.

Three women in sunny clearing, crouched tending to young trees. Blue sky and larger trees in background.

💚 #InternationalVolunteerDay
Volunteers and corporate teams are helping restore #ScotlandsRainforest and support people to connect with nature 🌿
Heather shares more in her new blog:
🔗 buff.ly/5AiXRyb
@biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge donations doubled to grow this work:
🔗 buff.ly/6MLczSU

A red-billed chough in flight, showing its red bill , plae blue sky behind.

3 red-billed chough standing on coastal rocks, showing their red bill and legs, sand behind.

red-billed chough standing in heather, showing its red bill and legs, turf behind.

Red-billed chough is on the brink of disappearing from Scotland. Under 50 pairs remain on Islay & Colonsay.
New study from ACT & Scottish Chough Forum with @zslofficial.bsky.social supported by ScotGov & @naturescot.bsky.social shows urgent action needed.
🔗 buff.ly/FgIMple
📷 David Dinsley
#NRF

💚 Thank you so much to everyone supporting our @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge.

Already £2,450 raised, and every donation is doubled thanks to Reed Educational Trust.
Help us reach £6,800 and support nature and community here in Argyll:
🔗 buff.ly/ftDinPj

#ScotlandsRainforest

Mirror image of a girl balancing on a large float ball outside with rustic wooden furniture and plants in the background. Double the difference in white text and company logos.

🎉 We’re live for #GivingTuesday!
The @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge has started and every donation to ACT is doubled from 2–9 December. 💚
Your support helps restore Argyll’s rainforest and brings people together outdoors in our communities.
🔗https://buff.ly/q00pJQx
#ScotlandsRainforest

A photo of a field in summer is overlayed with the text: "Integrating Trees Network Event. Woodland management to maximised biodiversity: What needs to be considered? Online 7-8pm Tuesday 2nd December"

Interested in creating and managing woodland to meet your biodiversity objectives? 🚜

Tune into tomorrow's Integrating Trees Network webinar to hear host farmers share their experience 👉 buff.ly/GTXdjdl

Rhododendron growing thickly on a wooded hillside

Join Argyll Countryside Trust (ACT) and partners for an informative and engaging session exploring the challenges and opportunities of tackling Rhododendron ponticum within Scotland’s rainforest. Kilmory Woodland, 11 Dec from 10am. Find out more: buff.ly/LUu8v8z