Red Squirrel. Credit: Bright Green Nature
Bright Green Nature (BGN), is an Alliance Partner based in Scotland, focused on rewilding landscapes and reconnecting communities with nature. Their main ecological projects include Restoring Wetlands using historic maps and Reintroducing natural processes through native grazing with Angus cattle and Exmoor ponies.
BGN also fosters community engagement through programs like “Wild Your Space” microgrants, a Garden Tool Library, Outdoor learning, and Youth Programmes. Recent milestones include the expansion of the Deer Park Wetland, a new project at The Haining with Rewilding Britain, and involvement in Red Squirrel recovery across southern Scotland and northern England. Their work is rooted in partnership and supports a vision of a wilder, healthier Scotland.
At the heart of Bright Green Nature’s mission is a beautifully simple sentiment: humans are part of nature, and by protecting and restoring it, we restore something vital within ourselves. Based in the hilly Scottish Borders, our newest Alliance Partner is tuning into the history of the land to restore its dynamic ecosystems.
Bright Green Nature’s (BGN) projects are restoring ecosystems to a more natural state and allowing Nature to take the lead.
The main focuses of the project include:
- Restoring Wetlands: With the information provided by historic maps, BGN is identifying key wetlands, breathing life back into rare and vital habitats that support frogs, insects, birds, and carbon-rich soil systems.
Drone View, Post Wetland Restoration, July 24. Credit: Bright Green Nature
- Reintroducing natural processes, such as natural grazing with native Angus cattle – and soon with Exmoor Ponies -, which mimic the role of wild herbivores and keep grasslands rich in biodiversity.
Rewilding is not just ecological—it’s emotional and cultural. Bright Green Nature understands that to protect Nature, we must first fall in love with it again.
Through creative and accessible projects, they are helping people rediscover wonder and agency:
- “Wild Your Space” microgrants help families, schools, and community groups to rewild their gardens and neighborhoods—one pond, hedge, or wildflower patch at a time.
Children of St Ronans Primary School who were awarded a Wild Your Space grant and are creating a wildflower meadow. Photo credit Jenny Gries
- A Garden Tool Library enables individuals to bring Nature back to their gardens, schoolyards, and community spaces, by equipping individuals with gardening tools. Outdoor learning brings children face-to-face with ecosystems they might otherwise not have access to—turning fields and woods into “living classrooms.”
- Youth Programmes
- Young Rewilders Forum (age 16 to 24) which offers a space to develop knowledge, networks and confidence to restore and protect vulnerable ecosystems.
- BGN Young Rangers (age 9 to 15) which provides skills in both the ecological and the social aspects of working to restore Nature.
This is rewilding at the community level: awakening a shared sense of belonging and care for the land.
BGN Young Rangers. Photo credit: Lisa McLeish.
Partnerships for Wild Futures
BGN’s work is rooted in partnership. From local volunteers to national funders, a growing network is coming together to support their vision of a wilder, healthier Scotland.
Here we celebrate some recent milestones:
- Expansion of the Deer Park Wetland, funded by the Nature Restoration Fund (NatureScot), where natural water flow is being restored and native species are returning.
- A new project at The Haining, funded by Rewilding Britain, turning 160 acres into a hub for learning, biodiversity, and wild regeneration.
- Involvement in a multi-partner collaboration to develop a sustainable approach to Red Squirrel recovery across southern Scotland and northern England. BGN is responsible for the community engagement in this 5 year project led by Northumberland Wildlife Trust and funded by the National Lottery.
Bright. Green. Rewilded.
Nature isn’t something apart from us. It is a part of us that we are returning to – together. We warmly welcome Bright Green Nature into our wild network of partners!