Challenge
Restoration Without Access
Reforestation in the remote Scottish Highlands faces extreme environmental challenges: gusty winds, rugged terrain, and the sheer impossibility of human or ground machinery access on steep heathland. Forester Ed Townley was on a mission to bring back native rainforest to the region above the village of Roshven, but the conventional approach of manual planting was not feasible for the 300-hectare area. The goal was to achieve a minimum of 1% germination, equating to 1,600 stems per hectare.
Solution
Drone-Driven Reforestation
AutoSpray and QRS deployed the XAG P40 drone to broadcast uncoated seeds of local pioneering tree species, including Alder, Aspen, Birch, Rowan, and Willow. This strategy aimed to replicate natural wind-dispersal and kickstart the colonisation process on the bare land. The use of the drone was the only efficient way to tackle the steep, inaccessible terrain.
Result
Expectations Exceeded
Six months after the application, the results were “way above expectations”. Rather than the expected 1% germination rate, a survey of the site showed a 2.7% germination rate. This dramatic success validates aerial broadcasting as a highly efficient and effective method for large-scale ecological restoration in the UK’s toughest landscapes. The project is paving the way for the restoration of a thriving, native mix of trees, boosting biodiversity and bringing back lost ecosystems.
- Germination Rate 2.7%
- Target Area 300 Hectare
