Gin flavoured with tree needles has gone on sale to save the ancient Caledonian Forest.
Distilllers The Gin Bothy has infused its “Bothy Original” brand with pine needles from the Arkaig Community Forest in Lochaber, and pledged yesterday to donate £1 a bottle to help conserve and regenerate the woodland.
British Commandos and Allied Special Forces including the Free French trained at Loch Arkaig during WWII. More recently it was the location for a sequence in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in which Harry, Hermione and Ron cling to a dragon as it flies above the forest before jumping off into the Loch below.
Tree conservation group The Woodland Trust launched an appeal last year to raise £500,000 to buy the forest, and a further £4m to restore it.
Arkaig is said to be “one of the most significant remaining areas” of Caledonian pine forest, and the work will be the largest ancient woodland restoration undertaken by the Woodland Trust on land directly under its care.
The forest is home to wild boar, sea eagles, golden eagles, ospreys, pine martens and deer, and a consignment of gold sent from France to help fund the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to be hidden there.
Steeped in history, the area is the ancestral home of the Clan Cameron.
Gin Bothy founder Kim Cameron said yesterday: “When I heard about the Woodland Trust’s appeal for funds to buy and restore Loch Arkaig pine forest, I just knew we had to get on board.”
Miss Cameron, 39, from Bridgend of Lintrathen, near Kirriemuir, Angus, added: “It is a spectacular place and there are such exciting plans for its future.”