Hundreds of thousands of pounds is to be invested in protecting vulnerable woodland at a north-east estate.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) received £125,000 from the People’s Postcode Lottery in March, which will now be spent at Mar Lodge Estate, Braemar.
The cash will go towards the Woodlands for Wildlife Project, which aims to safeguard some of Scotland’s most important plants which provide vital habitats for a range of species, from birds to insects.
The scheme will get under way in the autumn.
David Frew, operations manager at the estate, said: “Player of the People’s Postcode Lottery have once again supported the National Trust for Scotland’s work in protecting Scotland’s nature and wildlife.
“This funding will enable us to carry out vital work to care for the natural treasures which make Scotland so special and which we all love.
“The funding will enable the trust’s expert conservation team at the UK’s biggest reserve carry out a range of important work to look after woodland, particularly their efforts to revive Caledonian Pine.
“They’ll also focus efforts on protecting montane willow, Twinflower and Green Shield Moss – species which are all very important for the health of the reserve’s woodland and the insects, birds and animals that thrive there.”
As part of the project the public will be invited along to a series of information events and will also have the chance to get involved in the practical side of the work.
In April, NTS announced a £1.9 million five-year programme of investment to repair and upgrade 273 miles of upland walking routes across Scotland, including at Mar Lodge.
Hundreds of walkers took part in a Torchlight Challenge to celebrate the news, where they reached the summits of Ben Lomond in central Scotland, Ben Lawers in Perthshire, and Arran’s Goatfell.
A total of 150 hikers lit torches on the peaks to create a beacon that could be seen across the peaks.
