Carrifran is a 650ha glen in the Southern Uplands, with an altitudinal range of 160m – 820m, managed by Borders Forest Trust (BFT). In 2000, work began to restore the glen’s woodlands, and 750,000 trees were planted, while grazing was reduced by stock fencing and managing deer numbers. The ongoing results of this restoration work have been widely published. What is less well studied and understood is the restoration of montane scrub habitats and associated alpine flora in the hanging valley above Carrifran; Firth Hope Corrie.

Montane Scrub Carrifran S. Lapponum 2025. Photo by Borders Forest Trust

The objective of this research project, therefore, is to assess the establishment success of montane scrub planting in Firth Hope, as well as the impact of reduced grazing on associated alpine flora. Following detailed NVC baseline surveys of the glen by Alison and Ben Averis in 2000, a survey of Firth Hope identifying areas suitable for montane scrub establishment was carried out by Stuart Adair in 2005, following which montane willows and juniper were planted at Firth Hope. A systematic follow up survey to assess the success of this planting is needed to inform future montane scrub restoration across BFT’s 3,250ha Wild Heart in the Southern Uplands. While over 50,000 montane trees and shrubs have been planted to date, on this high-altitude site this leaves large areas yet to be restored.

The Moffat Hills SSSI, of which Carrifran is part, is partly designated for its alpine flora including “Rare and notable plant species [which] vary in their abundance… and include holly fern, purple saxifrage, pyramidal bugle, downy willow, alpine saw-wort and alpine cinquefoil. On ledges a tallherb community that includes roseroot, alpine scurvygrass and mountain sorrel is well represented.” The resurgences of the tall herb plant community at Carrifran is one of the glen’s remarkable ecological restoration stories. The recovery of woodland bird life (Savory, 2016) and moth life across habitats in the glen (upcoming, Norman, 2026), demonstrate the rapid recovery of nature at Carrifran.

Funding from Future Woodlands Scotland will allow this important long term monitoring survey work to be undertaken, the findings of which will inform and improve montane scrub restoration work across BFT’s sites in the Southern Uplands, and contribute to wider understanding of this high-altitude ecological restoration in Scotland.