Interview by Andi Cross
Photography by: Adam Moore & Marla Tomorug
Support from: Kilchoan Melfort Trust (KMT)

Tucked away on Scotland’s west coast, Argyll is a region defined by its rugged beauty and its once rich ecological diversity. Despite its remote nature, it’s still surprisingly accessible—a place where ancient woodlands meet dramatic coastal landscapes, offering a window into Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage. The area is renowned for its Atlantic rainforests, a rare ecosystem globally, as well as its deeply rooted traditions in farming and forestry. Argyll was once known for its rampant overuse of its natural resources, but today, it’s become a frontier for rewilding efforts. And venues like the Kilchoan Estate are leading the way in restoring habitats and biodiversity.

We had the unique opportunity to explore Kilchoan Estate with Luke Senior, Head of Gardens & Terrestrial Rewilding, who has a deep background in horticulture. Luke’s passion and fascination for plants date all the way back to his childhood. At 16, he began studying ornamental horticulture at college, which then led him into work in the food production and conservation industries. More specifically, he began exploring how low-impact, small-scale agriculture can work within broader food systems. Then, he took to botanical horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London, which deepened his understanding of plant diversity and ecosystems. And all of this eventually led him to the estate where he is now focused on gardens as well as terrestrial rewilding and how to bring Scotland back to its former glory.

Starting Early

Gardening is in my blood. My mum was a gardener, and so was my granddad. One of my earliest memories is planting peas with him—a simple moment that left a lasting impression. Growing up next to a plant nursery, I spent weekends surrounded by greenery, sampling cuttings, carrying pots, and exploring the world of plants in ways I didn’t realize would shape my future.

Early on, I knew I wanted a career that kept me connected to the earth. I’ve always made a conscious effort to stay grounded (literally) with my boots on the ground and soil in my hands. But the more I’ve learned about plants, the more I’ve realized just how much there is to uncover. You could spend a lifetime studying a single genus, or even one species, and still think of new questions to ask. That endless possibility for discovery is what keeps me fascinated.

Working at KMT has only deepened that curiosity. In the garden, I encounter species from around the world, and while out on the hills, I find plant communities that feel nostalgic from my childhood yet reveal surprising complexities the more I observe them. Over time, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how plants interact with animals, how geology influences ecosystems, and how all these elements fit together in a delicate balance. Every day here is a reminder that nature is endlessly intricate, offering a new layer to explore and appreciate.

A Past Scotland

Scotland’s iconic landscapes owe much of their character to centuries of human influence. While often imagined as a land of dense, unbroken woodlands, the truth is more complex. Historically, Scotland was a patchwork of open woodland, grasslands, and peatlands—a dynamic mosaic of ecosystems shaped over millennia.

After the retreat of the ice sheets at the start of the Holocene, the barren land was gradually colonized by pioneering species like birch and hazel, followed by oak and alder. With the arrival of humans, the landscape began to shift. Early settlers introduced hunting, farming, and basic woodland management, such as coppicing hazel and cultivating crops.

Over time, human activity intensified. Woodland clearance spread, and practices like controlled burns were used to manage heather and grasses for livestock and game. By the Victorian era, large-scale sheep grazing and land reforms had drastically reshaped the environment. Crofting communities were displaced, and land ownership was consolidated to prioritize commercial farming, wool production, and hunting. This led to a homogenized landscape designed for specific industries, often at the expense of ecological diversity.

Modern forestry practices have added new challenges. Non-native Sitka spruce plantations dominate many areas, creating monocultures with low biodiversity. While timber production is vital, the focus on fast-growing species like Sitka often undermines native ecosystems. Scotland’s temperate rainforest, or “Atlantic rainforest,” is an ecological gem, home to a rich diversity of plants and wildlife that depend on native species like oak, hazel, and birch.

At KMT (Kilchoan Melfort Trust), we’re addressing these challenges through rewilding and habitat restoration. By reducing intensive human interference and restarting natural processes, we aim to give Scotland’s ecosystems the space and time they need to recover. Our goal is to create a landscape that supports biodiversity while balancing sustainable human activity—a vision of Scotland that honors its natural heritage and future resilience.

Covering Only 2%

It’s important to mention that the ecosystems here are uniquely shaped by a hyper-oceanic climate heavily influenced by the nearby sea. This climate creates remarkably stable conditions with minimal temperature fluctuations. At Kilchoan Estate, for instance, the mean annual temperature is around 8°C, with very few days of hard frost. Rainfall averages 1.8 meters per year, coupled with frequent cloud cover, fog, and consistently high humidity. These conditions support a niche group of species specifically adapted to thrive in this environment.

Globally, this kind of temperate rainforest covers only about 2% of the planet. It’s found in select regions such as the Pacific Northwest, south-central Chile, Tasmania, parts of China, the foothills of the Himalayas, and here in semi-remote Scotland. This limited distribution makes Scotland’s Atlantic rainforest an ecological rarity!

The ocean plays a pivotal role in shaping this landscape. Acting as a natural regulator, it keeps temperatures stable, provides fresh, clean air, and delivers the abundant rainfall essential for maintaining the lush vegetation and unique biodiversity of the region. This maritime influence defines not just the environment but also the activities and management practices on estates like ours.

The Power of a Rewilding Estate

In Scotland, estates refer to privately owned parcels of land, often spanning diverse terrains and uses. Owners have considerable freedom in deciding how to manage their land, from farming and forestry to conservation and rewilding. At Kilchoan Estate, we’re using this flexibility to restore and protect ecosystems, balancing what remains of Scotland’s natural heritage with a vision for its future.

The estate’s landscape is remarkably diverse, with dramatic shifts in habitat and ecosystem types that reflect centuries of human activity. Historically, much of this land was dedicated to sheep grazing, which prevented natural woodland regeneration. When the estate came under private ownership, it presented an opportunity to shift toward positive environmental change—one that benefits the local community and the wider ecosystem.

Charitable ownership and placing the land into trust ensures the longevity of this work, as the woodland we’re fostering is intended to endure in perpetuity—all a part of this legacy of restoration. Since 2016, we’ve reallocated over 400 acres from grazing to woodland creation, planting 230,000 trees. This effort has been supported by self-funding and grants from the European Rural Development Fund and the Scottish Government.

But establishing these woodlands hasn’t been without its challenges. High populations of red deer required installing fencing to protect young saplings. Yet the goal remains to foster self-sustaining ecosystems where active management gives way to observation. These woodlands are designed to reconnect people with nature, offer vital ecosystem services, and showcase the resilience of habitats unique to this region.

We’ve planted a mix of native species, such as oak, hazel, and birch, all perfectly adapted to Argyll’s climate. This approach stands in contrast to the monoculture Sitka spruce plantations commonly seen across Scotland. While Sitka grows quickly and stores significant carbon, these plantations offer minimal biodiversity. At KMT, it’s not just about carbon sequestration; it’s about creating thriving ecosystems teeming with life.

Diverse native woodlands provide far more than the sum of their parts. For example, oak trees host globally scarce lichen communities, while structured woodlands support an intricate web of insects, birds, and mammals. By planting these dynamic, life-filled forests, we’re not just restoring landscapes—we’re demonstrating the critical value of biodiversity in healing and balancing our environment.

The Species it Supports

Everything here is connected—from the soil flora and fauna to the macroinvertebrates living within it and, of course, the lichens that make the west coast of Scotland so unique. And some of these lichens are incredibly rare on a global scale. Take Leptogium hibernicum, for example—it’s found in only a handful of places in the UK, and Argyll is one of them. Without diverse, regenerating woodlands, these species have nowhere to go, especially as older woodlands reach the end of their natural life cycles.

And this is what makes the work we’re doing so exciting. This estate offers an opportunity to explore rewilding and woodland creation in a way that can serve as a case study for others. Woodland creation itself isn’t a new concept, but we’re approaching it with a strong focus on biodiversity and comprehensive monitoring. We’re not just planting trees; we’re observing and recording the changes across multiple layers of the ecosystem—from the soil microbiome to lichen diversity to bird populations. It’s a chance to watch these woodlands grow from the very beginning into thriving, mature habitats.

In just the five and a half years I’ve been here, I’ve watched tiny saplings grow into trees you can now walk through, where the canopies even tower overhead. Even more exciting is seeing lichens starting to colonize the bark, a clear sign that these woodlands are becoming functional ecosystems.

And Then There’s Climate Change

I think about this often: no matter what happens to humanity, plants will endure. But what about our survival? Well, that’s another story entirely. We have a responsibility to care for plants because they care for us—providing clean air, food, and a foundation for life itself. Yet, the impacts of a changing climate are becoming harder to ignore. Plants are flowering at unusual times, species are appearing in unexpected places, and horticulturists are stretching the limits of what can grow where. It leaves me wondering how much longer we’ll be able to recognize the landscapes we’ve taken for granted.

As a horticulturist, the unpredictability of the climate is deeply concerning. Here on the estate, when we design gardens, we’re always thinking long-term: what a tree will look like in 60 or 100 years, how it will fit into its surroundings, and how it will survive in a rapidly changing environment. Rewilding adds another layer of complexity. It’s not just about restoring what’s been lost—it’s about preparing landscapes for an uncertain future. Unlike gardening, which blends native and non-native species to create ornamental spaces for people, rewilding focuses on repairing ecosystems and allowing nature to thrive independently.

Not every habitat, however, is meant to have trees. Peatlands and alpine montane scrub habitats, for instance, aren’t suited for dense woodlands, and respecting these natural boundaries is crucial. But across Scotland, there are vast areas where woodlands should exist but have been erased over centuries. Government tree-planting targets often focus on commercial forestry, prioritizing fast-growing species like Sitka spruce. While Sitka stores carbon quickly, monocultures like these lack biodiversity and fail to support the rich ecosystems native woodlands can provide.

Carbon storage in trees is only valuable if it remains stored. Using Sitka spruce for biomass energy releases carbon right back into the atmosphere. That’s why it’s so important to plant the right trees in the right places. Scotland’s landscapes are finite, and we can’t afford to misuse productive agricultural land or further degrade fragile ecosystems. Most of our woodlands today are semi-natural at best, shaped by centuries of human impact—from woodland clearance to shifting rainfall patterns and atmospheric changes.

If we continue with the same short-sighted mindset, we’ll only exacerbate the damage. Every action we take as humans ripples outward, affecting ecosystems in ways we often can’t predict. The challenge is recognizing that humanity and nature aren’t separate; we’re part of the same intricate system. By embracing this interconnectedness and making deliberate, thoughtful choices, we have the opportunity to create positive change—building ecosystems that sustain life rather than just reacting to their decline.

The Future of Kilchoan

Scotland, for all its reputation as a land of wild beauty, is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. The iconic species and landscapes that visitors marvel at today are but a fraction of what once flourished here. “Value what’s here and push for more,” I often say. It’s not enough to admire; we must actively restore and protect what remains. At KMT, this means balancing ecological restoration with innovation. Through partnerships like the International Conifer Conservation Program, we’re cultivating rare and threatened tree species from around the globe, using the estate as a “safe site” for their preservation.

Even Highland cattle, an iconic symbol of Scotland, play a role in this vision. Beyond their cultural significance, they act as proxies for the herbivores that once roamed these lands, grazing shrubs and grasses in a way that increases landscape dynamism and fosters biodiversity. Their presence supports species like the marsh fritillary butterfly, tied intricately to plants like Devil’s Bit scabious, ensuring that no link in the ecological chain is overlooked.

The work at KMT is far from finished, but that’s what actually excites me most. Every decision we make—whether planting a tree, introducing grazing animals, or monitoring ecosystem changes—feels like a step toward something greater than ourselves. It’s about leaving a legacy that extends beyond our lifetimes: a landscape that’s richer, more resilient, and deeply connected to its natural heritage.

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