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Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation
We are delighted to have launched a limited-edition cashmere check scarf in collaboration with the Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF). Based in Scotland, the Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation works in partnership with local communities to protect, restore and regenerate the natural beauty, biodiversity and ecosystems of the Scottish Highlands and Islands for the benefit of both nature and people.
“We were keen to support an environmental cause close to our Scottish roots so we are delighted to have created this cashmere scarf in collaboration with the Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation. Woven in the north of Scotland and inspired by the lichens, flora and fauna of its landscape, this limited-edition scarf is a timeless tribute to the country and to the tireless work HIEF does to regenerate, protect and restore the stunning natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.”
Victoria Stapleton, Founder & Creative Director
Inspired by the colours of the landscape, lichens and trees, the scarf will donate 10% of proceeds from every sale to HIEF. These donations will help fund environmental projects and community groups across the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Recently, the Brora team had the opportunity to visit HIEF in Ardtornish and learn first-hand about some of the grassroots projects they support.
Native Oyster Restoration
Native oyster restoration offers considerable benefits to the marine environment, including improving water quality through natural filtration and supporting biodiversity. We met with the Community Association of Lochs and Sounds (CAOLAS), a local community group that has received funding from HIEF to grow up to 20,000 native oysters. Once mature, the oysters are released into Loch Aline and the cycle begins again.
During our time with CAOLAS, we learned about the biodiversity supported by native oysters, how juvenile oysters (known as spat) attach themselves to adult oyster shells, and the remarkable volume of water a single oyster can filter, approximately 200 litres. We also had the opportunity to take part in hands-on monitoring, measuring and weighing the oysters to track their growth.
Saving Scotland’s Rainforest
Scotland’s rainforest is an extraordinary yet relatively unknown habitat. These vital, and extremely rare pockets of native woodland can be found along Scotland’s west coast, where high rainfall and relatively mild year round temperatures create ideal conditions for some of the world’s rarest bryophytes and lichens.
However, these habitats face increasing threats from high levels of grazing and invasive non-native species such as rhododendron and skunk cabbage. Regenerating Scotland’s rainforest could offer far more than a simple habitat restoration project. It also presents a vital nature-based solution to the climate emergency by helping to lock up carbon, support rural economies through the creation of land-based jobs and skills, and provide important benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing.
