The regeneration project at Tireragan is an invaluable opportunity to observe the way land reacts to wholesale changes in management. It is therefore important to monitor the changes and, if possible, undertake research projects investigating particular aspects of the processes involved.
For the past ten years, postgraduate students from Manchester Metropolitan University have been coming to Tireragan for a field course. Although their time is short, valuable information is being produced, especially the examination of the diversity found in passerine birds, insects and small mammals and changes in woodland structure.
In the near to medium future we will be making much of this research available through this website for research and educational purposes.
Tireragan was also an important part of a long term research project investigating the ecology of the predatory and scavenging birds of the Ross of Mull. Much will be learnt from, and taught by, the Tireragan project, providing useful data for other similar projects.
Some of the data collected by MMU is available as an online educational resource.
Tireragan has become a valuable educational resource for local schools, with many classes having visited Tireragan over the years. It is more difficult to offer field trips to schools from further afield - even the journey from Tobermory puts a severe limit on what can be achieved in a day. Other educational outputs relevant to schools are under consideration.
Education is also a requirement for all visitors to Tireragan, old or young. Interpretive displays, leaflets, improved waymarking on the land and this website will all help to increase awareness and understanding for all visitors of the landscape, wildlife, history and future of the land, even if they cannot venture out onto the land itself.
