A mystery donor just bought a massive Scottish estate to 'save the wild'—and end commercial shooting for good.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust acquired the 7,618-hectare Inverbroom Estate in the Scottish Highlands following a £17.5 million donation from an anonymous private donor, the largest contribution in the charity's 60-year history. Announced on 3 March 2025, the purchase will support plans to restore wildlife habitats through woodland regeneration and peatland restoration. The trust has also committed to working with local farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices, while creating opportunities for employment, training and volunteering. As part of its agreement with the donor, the charity confirmed that restoration work at the estate would not be funded through the sale of carbon credits.

How will £17.5 million help restore Scotland's Inverbroom Estate

The Scottish Wildlife Trust plans to restore wildlife and habitats across the Inverbroom Estate. According to Civil Society, the charity's proposed work includes woodland regeneration and peatland restoration to transform the landscape. The estate contains some of Scotland's recognised species and habitats, and the trust intends to manage the land for the benefit of wildlife and local communities.The charity also plans to work with local farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices that benefit nature while maintaining a productive business model.

These plans form part of the trust's wider approach to managing the estate following its acquisition. The agreement with the anonymous donor also specifies that restoration work at Inverbroom will not be financed through carbon-credit sales.

How will the Inverbroom Estate benefit wildlife and local people

Alongside its habitat restoration plans, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has committed to acting as a responsible landlord at Inverbroom. The charity intends to develop opportunities for local people through employment, training and volunteering. Its plans also include working with farmers to encourage agricultural practices that support nature while allowing farming businesses to remain productive.The estate's acquisition comes with a commitment to deliver benefits for both wildlife and people. In a statement reported by Civil Society, chief executive Jo Pike said the site had been secured for the benefit of Scotland's wildlife and people, noting that overseas buyers had also expressed interest in the property. The trust's plans combine habitat restoration with sustainable land management and opportunities for local participation.

Why did the trust keep the Inverbroom Estate donor anonymous

Although the donor has chosen to remain anonymous, the Scottish Wildlife Trust confirmed that it carried out due diligence before accepting the donation. A spokesperson told Civil Society: "Despite not disclosing the identity of the donor publicly, the trust has carried out due diligence on the donation as we would normally do." The spokesperson explained that this included examining donors' environmental policies and reputations, associated companies and previous giving histories.The spokesperson added that the trust was confident in its due diligence process and had previously declined donations when concerns arose over risks such as greenwashing. The charity took ownership of the majority of Inverbroom Estate on 3 March 2025, with the remainder due to transfer on 8 April. Pike described the acquisition as an important milestone for the trust and Scotland's efforts to address nature and climate challenges. She also thanked the donor and former chief executive and current trust ambassador Jonny Hughes, who facilitated the donation.