Our work
We work to defend wild land, enhance habitats and encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with wild places
Protecting wild land
We are dedicated to protecting wild land. We speak out when it comes under threat, and work to influence the policies that affect it.
Managing wild land
We manage land according to our wild land management standards. This includes rewilding habitats, managing deer and monitoring biodiversity.
Wild Space visitor centre
Our visitor centre in Pitlochry is a showcase for our work and wild places.
Wild places are vital
Wild places give us wonder and enjoyment. If treated well, they provide a valuable home for nature. They give us food, fuel, flood prevention, clean water, fresh air and carbon storage. They give us space to relax and de-stress.
Yet in the UK, our wild places have suffered great damage. Development has encroached. We’ve lost most of our native woodlands and other important habitats. The wildlife that lived in them has gone too. We've depleted our soils of nutrients and hunted key species to extinction.
Now is the time to take positive action. Wild land is a precious, finite resource that we need to cherish. The best way to support our work is to become a member of the John Muir Trust.
Did you know…
- By 2013, only 27% of Scotland was free from the visual intrusion of a man-made built development
- Native woodlands cover a mere 4% of the land area in Scotland. More than half of these woodlands are dying due to overgrazing by high deer populations.
- The roaming distance that children play from their home has shrunk by 90% in 30 years. Time spent playing outside is down 50% in just one generation.
We are making a difference
Better protection for wild land
In 2014, our campaigning work resulted in the Scottish Government introducing better wild land protection measures. This included adoption of the Wild Land Areas map into planning policy.
Expanding native woodland
In 25 years, we’ve achieved a tenfold increase in native tree cover on our land on Knoydart. This is encouraging a return of wildlife and will improve biodiversity in the long-term.
Establishing effective deer management
We’ve helped to put deer management reform onto the Scottish Government’s agenda. We need changes that will restore Scotland’s deer populations to what nature can support.
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Engaging more people with nature
We help thousands of people get out into nature every year through the John Muir Award. Many of them would not have the opportunity otherwise.
The John Muir Trust does an amazing job of looking after the most remote, untamed places in the UK while inspiring others to connect and care for our natural heritage.
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