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 Drum Castle is situated on a ridge overlooking the River Dee, just 10 miles from the heart of Aberdeen. From 1323 to 1975 it was the home of the Irvine Family and is now the oldest intact building in the care of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). Natural and built heritage go very much hand in hand at Drum Castle. As well as attracting around 40,000 visitors to the castle itself, another estimated 50,000 come just to visit the grounds, which include beautiful gardens, ancient oak woodland and rolling farmland.
 Integrating built and natural heritage
Wildlife is integrated into the built heritage of Drum Castle in a spectacular way. The attic of the castle itself houses a maternity roost for over 200 pipistrelle bats and the old tower basement hosts hibernating males. There is, in fact, no other known hibernating site in the north east of Scotland for this protected species.
Summer visitors to Drum can take part in dramatic guided walks and watch the bats flooding from the castle at dusk. In wintertime the tower is closed off to avoid disturbing the hibernating males and signs explain to visitors the importance of these wonderful animals and why their co-operation is needed.
 To further avoid disturbing the pipistrelles building work is planned two years in advance and the NTS ranger team carry out bat surveys and advise the building surveyors the best time to carry out the work.
 Making the most of the Old Wood
The 'Old Wood of Drum' is one of only three ancient oak woodlands in the north east of Scotland. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), it plays host to an array of wildlife including red squirrels, roe deer and woodpeckers. It is also an important summer foraging ground for the pipistrelles. NTS work with the North East Red Squirrel Group to promote conservation of this declining species and visitors following the waymarked trail through the wood may catch a glimpse of the squirrels.
Guided walks throughout the year and signs offer visitors the opportunity to learn about conservation and wildlife of the woodland. NTS is constantly looking to improve the management on site. It is currently researching the historical management of the woodland, which is thought to have once been grazed by cattle. Interpretation boards tell visitors about this and other conservation projects. Work is ongoing and a new management plan is currently being written for the woodland in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
 Practical work and visitor impacts
Footpaths are monitored every year to check for impacts from high visitor numbers to make sure any problems are identified and dealt with as quickly as possible. Much of the practical work on site is done by local NTS conservation volunteers who not only help with footpath restoration, but also get involved with everything from tree planting to deer fence repairs.
Plans for the future
There is a long history of agriculture on Drum House Estate and today Home Farm, on the estate, is managed under an agri-environment scheme, which works to enhance its wildlife value. Due to new access legislation (Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003), which will increase visitor access to the farmland, NTS has plans for interpretation to raise awareness of the conservation work and to ensure the access does not impact detrimentally on the farm or wildlife.
 Drum and its work with natural heritage are promoted through a well illustrated website and more locally through the parish newsletter, the Conservation Volunteers Group and the guided walks.
Plans for the future include improving access for the whole estate, allowing even more people to enjoy the grounds as well as the castle.
For more information, please contact:
Jackie Fisher (Visitor Services Manager)
or Fiona Milne (Senior Ranger)
Drum Castle and Gardens
Drumoak
Banchory
Aberdeenshire
AB31 5EY
Phone: 01330 811204
E-mail: drum@nts.org.uk
Website: www.nts.org.uk/Property/24/
This case study features in the publication 'Greening Scottish Tourism: Linking the Built & Natural Heritage, 10 Best Practice Case Studies'. You can download the full publication at the bottom of this page.
Case study added August 2005
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