Environment & the Landscape

The Museums site provides a safe environment for visitors to enjoy an introduction to the culture of the Highlands and the Cairngorms National Park area.

The Pinewoods, an early 1900s plantation on top of what once was a very hilly ladies golf course (!), provides a habitat for various birds and animals including tree creepers and red squirrels. In 2006 a new project was started to further encourage  red squirrels and improve their survival - in 2007 & 2008 visitors regularly return to see the increased numbers of squirrels at the feeders or running along the ropes between the trees.

The Farm provides an introduction to agricultural practices from the 1900s as well as how the land, the flora and fauna was managed. Wide field margins are left to encourage local biodiversity.

Other open areas of the museum, in season, display a variety of wild plant life. Some areas too are encouraged for such as the natural regeneration of trees such as the Scots Pine.

Not all of the environment is natural and the Museum, in addition to several areas of Birch and other species plantation, incorporates gardens at both the Farmhouse and the School. The latter is being developed to demonstrate what may be grown not only traditionally but also at home.

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