Scottish island needs ‘robust’ deer management plans 

The owners of a 1,500-acre island in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides have announced plans to increase Ronay’s biodiversity and revitalise the natural environment.

Ronay, which is located off the coast of North Uist, has a history of diverse land use, but now suffers from limited seed sources, overgrazing and consequent low natural regeneration. This summer, the island will undergo extensive baselining surveys to gain a comprehensive understanding of its current state of biodiversity.

The project has support from the Uist community and environmental experts from across the UK, including the Northwoods Rewilding Network, RePlanet and a purposely formed steering committee of local stakeholders.

Andrew Marshall, the co-owner of Ronay and founder of the Carlowrie Group, explained that red deer often swim to Ronay from neighbouring islands Grimsay and North Uist, and that in order to aid the restoration of the island’s natural habitats, the project team will need to embark upon a robust deer management plan.

He added: “There is a lot of potential to increase the existing biodiversity on Ronay Island, and we can already see nature attempting to make a comeback despite many years of extensive grazing, but it will need human intervention to help these natural processes thrive.”