Dùn Coillich
offers huge potential for ecological research.
Monitoring the trees, other plants and habitats, mammals and birds is incredibly rewarding and offers invaluable insights into development of future ecological restoration projects.
Our staff and volunteers, guided by specialists from partner organisations, carry out regular surveys on the hill, ranging from breeding bird and butterfly surveys to natural regeneration monitoring and more targeted surveys of key habitats. We also use camera traps in strategic locations to see what’s on the move at Dùn Coillich when we’re not around to witness them!
As well as these more formal surveys visitors and volunteers anecdotally record wildlife sightings on our ‘spotted’ board.
Our site species list currently sits just shy of 1,000 recorded species and we add to it all the time. To date 107 species of birds, 555 species of plant, 43 species of fungi, 228 invertebrate species, and 39 mammals and amphibians have been formally recorded… and that’s just the ones we’ve seen! Visit our Discover page to find out more…
Connect and collaborate
Besides our own regular site surveys, Dùn Coillich offers potential for a wide range of ecological research projects and opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience of habitat restoration.
Examples of such collaborations include:
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), which is currently collaborating on a variety of projects including investigating resistance to Dutch elm disease, refuges for rare plant species, and propagation potential from the stunning wild apple tree growing in a strip of precious riparian woodland on the site.
Specialists from Butterfly Conservation leading surveys for rare species, hosting educational walks and talks and working with us on managing and recording beneficial habitats.
A Masters student from Edinburgh University investigating how volunteers benefit from their involvement with the land.
Potential research into interactions between mink and water voles, including a survey into current water vole populations at Dùn Coillich.
Potential link with the University of the Highlands & Islands to evaluate the impact of the Rural Skills training programme on career development for past and present trainees.
We’re always delighted to hear from organisations and individuals who share our passion for ecological restoration and rural skills development. If your research project would benefit from a collaboration or if you have expertise in surveying that could boost our biodiversity records even further,
