A national rewilding programme for the Ochil Hills

The Ochil Hills are a defining part of the landscape around Perthshire, Kinross-shire and Stirling. Their peatlands, burns, grasslands and woodlands support wildlife, store carbon and help manage water, while farms and rural businesses depend on the same land. A national rewilding programme would need to protect those functions without treating working communities as an afterthought.

For the SNP, the proposal fits a wider argument about Scotland’s economic and environmental future. Restoring damaged habitats could create skilled rural jobs, strengthen flood resilience and support tourism, while giving Scotland greater control over land, energy and natural resources. Annabelle Ewing’s role as a candidate for Ochil and South Perthshire places local experience at the centre of that debate.

Australian readers will recognise some of the tensions. The discussion is similar to debates around bush regeneration in the Blue Mountains, catchment repair near Melbourne, and restoration work in Kosciuszko National Park. In Scotland, however, the immediate landscape is shaped by upland farming, grouse moors, deer pressure, peat soils and a densely settled island economy.

Restoring nature while backing rural communities

A national programme would begin with practical restoration rather than a single grand gesture. Priorities could include rewetting peatlands, planting native woodland in suitable locations, restoring river corridors and allowing native vegetation to regenerate. The Ochils would benefit from a landscape-scale approach that joins separate projects across parish and estate boundaries.

Farmers and crofters would need a clear place in the plan. Payments for flood management, biodiversity, soil improvement and carbon storage could reward landholders for measurable public benefits. That approach is more likely to win support than compulsory blanket tree planting or rules designed without local knowledge.

The Australian comparison is useful here. Landcare groups have shown how restoration can work when landholders, volunteers, Traditional Owners and government agencies share responsibility. In Scotland, similar partnerships could bring together farmers, councils, community trusts, conservation bodies and estates.

Making the Ochils a test bed for green jobs

Rewilding is often discussed as a conservation activity, but it can form part of an economic recovery strategy. The Ochil Hills could support jobs in ecological surveying, peatland engineering, forestry, visitor services, environmental education and rural construction. Local procurement would help ensure that public money circulates through communities rather than flowing mainly to distant contractors.

Training would be essential. A programme backed by an SNP government could work with colleges and universities to develop apprenticeships in habitat restoration, mapping, ecological monitoring and low-impact access infrastructure. These are careers suited to people who want to remain in Perthshire, Clackmannanshire or Stirlingshire.

The market already provides some funding through carbon projects and private conservation investment, but public standards must be strong. Clear rules would help prevent questionable claims, land grabs or credits that offer little real ecological value. Restoration should be measured by healthier peat, cleaner water, more varied habitats and stronger populations of native species.

Linking climate action with flood protection

The Ochil Hills influence water moving towards settlements and farmland below. Peatland restoration can slow runoff, while better-managed burns, wetlands and riparian woodland can reduce erosion and improve water quality. These measures will not remove every flood risk, but they can form part of a broader catchment strategy.

For Australians, the principle will sound familiar from efforts to protect towns downstream of fire-affected or heavily cleared catchments. A Scottish programme would have to account for different weather and vegetation, yet the basic lesson is shared: restoring the upper catchment can protect homes, roads, farms and infrastructure further down.

Policy area	Potential action in the Ochils	Benefit for local communities
Peatlands	Rewet degraded peat and block damaging drainage channels	Carbon storage, cleaner water and slower runoff
Native woodland	Expand woodland in appropriate corridors and steep gullies	Wildlife habitat, shelter and skilled employment
Rivers and burns	Restore banks and reconnect wetlands	Lower erosion and better flood resilience
Access and tourism	Improve paths, interpretation and public transport links	More visitor spending and healthier recreation
Rural finance	Offer long-term payments for verified nature outcomes	More predictable income for land managers

Protecting wildlife and access to the hills

A serious rewilding policy must address deer numbers, invasive species and habitat fragmentation. It should also protect public access, since walking and outdoor recreation are important parts of life in central Scotland. Better paths, clearer signage and responsible visitor management can reduce pressure on sensitive areas while making the hills more welcoming.

Community involvement would help determine where restoration is appropriate. Some slopes may be suitable for woodland, while open moorland, archaeological sites or valuable grasslands may require a different treatment. Rewilding should mean restoring ecological function, not imposing one landscape ideal everywhere.

This matters to an Australian audience accustomed to debates over access, feral animals and the balance between conservation and recreation. Whether the setting is a Scottish hill track or a route through the Blue Mountains, effective management depends on clear responsibilities, reliable maintenance and respect for people who live near protected landscapes.

Giving Scotland more control over land and climate policy

The SNP’s political case connects rewilding with the broader question of national powers. Westminster controls important areas of finance, taxation and environmental investment, while Scottish ministers and councils often have to deliver long-term programmes within short funding cycles. A national plan would need stable finance across decades, not isolated grants that disappear after a parliamentary term.

Annabelle Ewing can present the Ochil Hills as a place where environmental ambition and local representation meet. The case for action is strongest when it promises transparent targets, community benefit, fair treatment for land managers and regular public reporting. Independence is part of the SNP’s wider platform, but the immediate test is whether people can see practical gains in their own valleys, farms and towns.

For Australian readers, the closest parallel is the way state and federal responsibilities can complicate landscape management. Long-term restoration works best when funding survives election cycles and local organisations know who is accountable. Scotland’s programme should adopt that discipline while retaining democratic control over land-use choices.

Support Annabelle Ewing’s campaign for a greener, more resilient Ochil and South Perthshire. Follow local campaign updates, learn where and how to vote, and contact the campaign team to discuss the future of the hills, rural jobs and Scotland’s environmental priorities.