Restoring our peatlands is a crucial part of dealing with the climate crisis. On RSPB Scotland’s spectacular Abernethy nature reserve, work is going in the remotest of locations 800 metres up in the Cairngorms to make this a reality. This is also part of our work with partners to help transform the wider Cairngorms landscape.
Together with Cairngorms Connect and funding from Peatland ACTION through NatureScot we’re working hard to make sure our peatlands work for the climate and nature: watch the video above to find out more.
Contractor MNV Consulting will be working over 92 hectares where large areas of bare peat exists along with severe gullying and peat hags on An Lurg. The damage on this remote hill has been linked to historic high grazing pressure from deer and sheep. This now allows peat to erode with rainfall as well as releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
These processes mean that impacted areas will continue to increase until restoration work takes places.
The RSPB is working on uplands restoration projects across the UK.
In England, we're calling on the government to 'ban the burn': the burning of peatland on shooting estates is causing environmental damage.
In Northern Ireland, we are part of the Co-operation Across Borders for Biodiversity (CABB), re-wetting the blanket bog on the Garron Plateau.
And in Wales, we're working with farmers to look after these precious places - read more in Welsh / read more in English