Client: Trees for Life, April 2023
CMC was the interpretation lead for this project and we worked with Abound Design to develop the design elements for the brand-new Rewilding Centre at the Dundreggan Estate in the Scottish Highlands. Trees for Life’s aim is to make the new centre a gateway for reconnecting with the wonders of nature.
The exhibition has been a great success, informing and enthusing a wide range of visitors about how they can understand and connect with their environment. The area’s heritage is strongly-embedded in Gaelic culture and language. We reflected this into the displays with bilingual texts and audio listening posts which feature stories of Gaelic legends and beliefs. There are also a number of Interactive touchscreens encouraging visitors to ‘Rewild Yourself’, discover ‘Secrets in the Scenery’, explore ‘Names in the Landscape’ and find out about similar local rewilding projects as well as campaigns in Europe and the rest of the world.
A highlight of the displays is a wonderful animated film in the storytelling space Am Bothan. This was a collaboration with animator Helen Woolston, who used natural materials and inks from the local estate to create the characters. The story reimagines a young girl’s otherworldly encounter with legendary hunters The Fianna.
The centre opened its doors to the public on 15 April 2023. Throughout the building – in the gathering space, along corridors, in the café windows, the resource centre and then outside onto the trails – the interpretation weaves a consistent style and message throughout providing a memorable and satisfying experience for all visitors.
We really enjoyed working with CMC Associates and Abound Design. They were so helpful in guiding us through the whole interpretation process, something completely new to us. CMC made sure they understood the messages we were trying to communicate, bringing together natural and cultural heritage in unique ways. They created a mixture of printed and AV content that appeals to a range of visitors with different levels of knowledge and ability. Visitors love our stop-motion animation, touchscreen maps and quizzes, and our immersive “wood wide web” wall! Their work helps bring the whole visitor experience together, inspiring visitors to explore the landscape and find out more.
Kat Murphy, Dundreggan Rewilding Centre Visitor Experience Manager
