Dùn Coillich is roughly 1,100 acres of hill ground situated to the east of Schiehallion, 6 miles north-west of Aberfeldy. This was the 1st successful community land purchases in Highland Perthshire, which was made possible by the generous contributions by the local community. The community manage this land for the benefit of everyone in Highland Perthshire and beyond. Children get involved through schools and other youth groups to help with plantations. The main aims of the project are to benefit the community of Highland Perthshire educationally, environmentally, socially and economically. Sustainable use and management of land, water, habitat and wildlife, protecting Scotland's natural environment. The area consists of heather-moorland, boggy patches and small Scots pine plantation, two burns run through it and the two hills, Dùn Beag and Dùn Coillich.
Dùn Coillich belongs to everyone in the area. Visitors to Dun Coillich are asked to play their part by contributing any sightings of flora or fauna on the website, the list of sightings is extensive. Below you will find a list of some samples:
BirdsBlack grouse, buzzard, chaffinch, golden eagle, goldfinch, warbler, woodpecker, grey wagtail, hen harrier, heron, jay, kestrel, mallard, osprey, peregrine, pheasant, pied wagtail, pink foot goose, raven, red grouse, skylark, sparrow hawk, tawny owl, wood pigeon, woodcock & wren
Fungi:Aleuria aurantia (Orange Peel Fungus), Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric), Calvatia excipuliformis, Collybia maculata (Spotted Tough Shank), Hygrocybe nivea (Snowy Wax Cap), Hygrocybe pratensis (Meadow wax cap), Panaeolus rickeni, Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore), Russula atropurpurea (Russula, Blackish Purple) & Tricholomopsis decora
A selection of the different types of flora:Agrostis, Alchemilla, Asplenium, Carex, Cirsium, Dactylorhiza, Deschampsia, Dryopteris, Epilobium, Equisetum, Eriophorum, Galium, Holcus, Hypericum, Juncus, Juniperus, Luzula, Phegopteris connectilis, Pinus, Polygala, Ranunculus, Rumex, Salix, Stellaria, Trifolium, Veronica & Viola
Wildlife such as deer, feral goats & sheep have been removed from the area to allow regrowth, with the aim of re-establishing native woodland over about half the area. The vision is to go back to a time when the area was a mosaic of mixed woodland, heathland, wetland and limestone edges and grassland, together with the associated wildlife.
This is a fantastic wildlife conservation area with observational and recreational facilities available to locals and visitors alike.
