FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inverness, Scotland — 1 July 2024 — Two years after securing funding to establish the largest wildflower meadow in the Loch Ness region, The Boleskine House Foundation SCIO, a registered Scottish charity, is seeing the fruits of its labour, as the five-acre meadow is now showing significant color in its first year of bloom.

“For the first time since planting, we are seeing remarkable colour and growth in the meadow,” said Keith Readdy, Chairman of The Boleskine House Foundation. “We have transformed the land from a once-abandoned field into a beautiful place for people to enjoy and for bees and wildlife to thrive.”

“I have been visiting Boleskine for more than 30 years, and it is now incredibly encouraging to see our meadows supporting pollinators and boosting local diversity,” said Gary Livingstone, Trustee of The Boleskine House Foundation. “The grounds were so dilapidated for so many years, but now the meadow is in full bloom, buzzing with wildlife, and providing a stunning display on the banks of Loch Ness.”

According to The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s, and the loss of our nation’s meadows is one reason that bee populations have been in decline. The meadow at Boleskine is one of the charity’s biodiversity initiatives that aims to support an increase in bee populations.

The wildflower meadow was developed and planted with millions of native Scottish wildflower seeds. It was made possible by an ambitious 2022 initiative, which raised more than £30,000 from the Highland Council Nature Restoration Fund and the Aviva Community Fund.For more information and to see more photos of the wildflower meadow in bloom, visit The Boleskine House Foundation on social media at https://www.facebook.com/boleskine.house.foundation or https://www.instagram.com/boleskine.house/.

The Boleskine House Foundation

The Boleskine House Foundation SCIO is a Scottish Registered charity whose mission is to restore and preserve the historical legacy and heritage of the Boleskine House estate for the greater benefit of the public. In addition to our conservation-led approach to sympathetically restore Boleskine House, we aim to educate the public on the heritage of the house and lands, to welcome the enjoyment of its structure and surrounding gardens, and to facilitate learning, growth and well-being. For more information, please visit www.boleskinehouse.org.

Contact:

Keith Readdy
info@boleskinehouse.org

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