It’s been another busy year for our Ranger team. Here’s a look at what they’ve been working on across Rothiemurchus in 2025.
Rothiemurchus Ranger Report – 2025
2025 has been a year of change and growth for the Ranger team. Shona stepped into her first full year as Head Ranger, ably supported by Vicky as Senior Ranger. They were joined for the season by Eleanor, Emily, Ev and Ross, with the ever-reliable Ray continuing to provide invaluable help and experience with visitor tours. We said farewell to Millie in June, who after two years on the team, swapped Rothiemurchus for a new life in Texas.
Head Ranger, Shona Meldrum
Meanwhile our visitor experiences expanded this year to include a new and very hands-on bottle-feeding session with the calves. The Hairy Coo Safaris remain one of our most popular activities however, with over 3,000 people joining us on safari this summer alone! Among them were some familiar faces. Robson Green and Gail Porter enjoyed meeting our hairy coos of all sizes when they combined both experiences during a visit. Look out for more on this story in the new year!
The weather in 2025 was quite a contrast to 2024, with the hottest and driest summer in many years keeping us extremely busy. Increased numbers of campers added to an already high fire risk; the Ranger team extinguished 25 live campfires, each of which could have resulted in serious wildfires if left unchecked. That we made it to the end of the summer without a serious fire taking hold is a testament to the vigilance and hard work of the Ranger team throughout the long, hot weeks.
HABITAT SURVEYS
From April through to October this year, Eleanor from the Ranger Team carried out a programme of detailed habitat surveys across Rothiemurchus, drawing on her training in this field whilst studying at Harper Adams University.
These surveys are a vital part of the estate management, allowing us to assess natural regeneration and to monitor the impact of deer browsing. By recording the condition of species such as heather, Scots pine, birch and rowan, we can build a clearer picture of the impact of deer on the environment, and whether current levels of deer control are sufficient. This evidence-based approach ensures that decisions are made with a full understanding of how the land and its vegetation are responding.
The survey work took Eleanor into areas that are generally less accessible to visitors, offering a more complete view of habitat conditions across the variety of different landscapes on Rothiemurchus. It means we can observe and record not just regeneration patterns, but also the presence of specific flora or fauna species in these areas.
The results of this year’s surveys will contribute directly to our long-term planning, helping to safeguard the ecological health of Rothiemurchus while supporting a balanced approach to deer and habitat management. This careful monitoring underpins our commitment to caring for the unique character of the estate, both for wildlife and for people, in the years ahead.