Since 2013 some 5580ha of Scotland’s peatlands across 100 sites have been directly benefitting from physical restoration work, funded by Peatland ACTION. Over the course of this winter, this figure is set to increase by another 3000ha.
This has all been thanks to around £8 million funding from the Scottish Government between 2013 and 2015, administered by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The main aims of the funding are to:
- Support physical peatland restoration for multiple benefits;
- Facilitate, inform and support the launch of Scotland’s National Peatland Plan; and
- Build awareness and understanding of peatland restoration with landowners, managers, farmers, contractors and the public.
The publishing of Scotland’s National Peatland Plan in August of this year was a key milestone for the restoration and management of Scotland’s peatlands. The publication followed a public consultation period in which a wide range of views were sought from organisations and individuals. The delivery of the plan will now be supported by a SNH-led National Peatland group comprising land managers, Scottish Government, NGOs, agencies and representatives from the research community.
A number of roles set out by the Plan are already being delivered by Peatland ACTION, most notably the physical restoration work. Within the Cairngorms National Park, for example, five projects are actively restoring 376ha of peatland habitat which includes 15.4ha of bare peat re-vegetated, 35.2km of eroded hags and gullies re-profiled and revegetated, and 15.3km of drains or grips dammed. The estimated carbon savings of the projects is 4397 tonnes CO2 equivalent per year.
The delivery of physical restoration also offers the ideal opportunity for promotion and awareness amongst land managers of the benefits of healthy peatlands, through the creation of a number of demonstration events happening across Scotland. To complement this, a series of restoration technique films have been produced covering ditch blocking, bunding, reprofiling, surface smoothing and experimental bunding. Videos on scrub control, as well as engaging land managers and the public are coming soon on the SNH website and YouTube.
For more information on Peatland ACTION please contact us at peatlandaction@snh.gov.uk.
