Areas around Skye landmark closed while ‘challenging’ restoration takes place

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It is great to be able to carry out this challenging work that will make the site resilient and available for future generations to enjoy Alistair Danter, Skye Iconic Sites Partnership The restoration is said to be “challenging work” but project leaders say it will “make the site resilient and available for future generations to enjoy”. The Skye Iconic Sites Project, which is part of an almost £9 million Scottish programme of projects to invest in the Highlands and Islands, carried out habitat restoration trials in the area last year, involving sowing local wildflower seed in a bid to boost grasslands. Dougie Baird, CEO of the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland said: “The understandable popularity of the Old Man of Storr as a unique visitor attraction has led to the erosion of grassland, which is a crucial component of the local ecosystem and a key part of Scotland’s natural heritage. “We are very grateful for the backing of the Skye Iconic Sites Partnership in making this project possible and for their support in safeguarding this spectacular landscape for generations to come.” Alistair Danter, chair of the Skye Iconic Sites Partnership, added: “It is great to be able to carry out this challenging work that will make the site resilient and available for future generations to enjoy, the economic and environmental value that an asset like the Old Man of Storr represents for the local community is hard to overstate.”