Peatland restoration funding

I see from the Scottish Rural Network News email that Scottish Natural Heritage are currently promoting their peatland restoration fund.

I know from my subscription to the Public Contracts Scotland website that both Forestry Commission Scotland and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are both actively restoring peatland at Forsinard and other areas of the Flow Country.

The work often involves clearfelling inappropriate coniferous woodland, and blocking drainage ditches. To do this, excavators and other heavy plant work on very soft ground where there can be a very real risk of getting stuck. Aside from a great deal of operator skill, this is made possible by fitting the machines with wide tracks to reduce ground pressure.

Here's a link to an informative brief on the work, produced by Scottish Natural Heritage. 

The RSPB's page on their work is here.

Interested land managers would do well to take a look at SNH's Peatland ACTION project page. 

And finally, the Scottish Rural Network's information on the project can be found here. 

Their newsletter often contains interesting information on forestry, farming and community matters. I recommend it!