Since January 2023, we have been developing plans for restoring areas of peatland on our Birsay Moors nature reserve. Over the years peatland on Orkney has been used for a variety of purposes, but now much of the 9000 hectares across the islands – equal to 15,000 football pitches – is in a degraded condition. Funding available through the Scottish Government’s Peatland Action Fund, as well as through Peatland Code, now mean that such restoration projects are also beginning in many other locations across Scotland.
Healthy blanket bogs provide several key environmental benefits. Firstly, they support a wide variety of wildlife, birds such as Hen Harriers and Curlew and Golden Plover, both upland waders, and plant species such as Sphagnum mosses and Sundew. Blanket bogs are also extremely important for our climate and over long time periods can accumulate and store remarkable amounts of carbon. However, if they begin to degrade then this stored carbon can be released back into the environment, contributing to climate change and lower water quality.
Hen Harriers are one of many species which thrive on healthy peatlands. Image credit: Andy Hay.
Beginning at the south-eastern end of the reserve, around Black Moss of Evrigert, we are looking to improve blanket bog condition by slowing the flow of water across the area and reducing erosion in areas of exposed peat. This will create more favourable conditions for species such as cotton grasses and sphagnum mosses – a key component in the formation of peat – and so will reduce both the amount of carbon released and improve the habitat for our upland species. Improving blanket bog condition now also increases its resilience to any future impacts from climate change, such as longer periods of heavy rain or drought.
Survey work began around Black Moss in spring, fortunately just as the weather began to improve and the days were getting longer. Surveying blanket bog includes the mapping of features present across the area, such as historically cut peat banks, drainage features where water flow requires slowing, and actively eroding hags and gullies. It also included recording the depth of peat across the area to find the deepest and shallowest areas – so far the deepest point found is 285cm! Technology now plays a significant role in survey work as we can have high resolution imagery of the area at our fingertips, and features can be seen clearly from these, helping to indicate where areas requiring more work may be concentrated.
Overall, Black Moss appears to be one of the more heavily degraded areas within the Birsay Moors nature reserve as there are a high concentration of old peat cuttings, as well as large gullies where significant water flow has been observed throughout the year, even during periods of drier weather. Numerous species have been seen while out surveying, and the Bonxies (Great Skuas) have got a little too close for comfort on a few occasions! Short-eared owls and Hen Harriers are also regularly sighted while surveying, and the distinctive call of Golden Plover is heard frequently.
While survey work has been ongoing, we have also been talking with local stakeholders to discuss any concerns they may have regarding the process. As part of this we held a Guide in a Hide event at the Birsay Moors hide during Orkney Nature Festival 2023, where members of the public stopped by to see Red-throated Divers, Bonxies, and a male Hen Harrier, and gain an understanding of the scale of restoration required across the nature reserve.
A session was recently also held with teachers from local schools to highlight the importance of peatlands and to examine ways in which they could incorporate learning about peatlands into their classrooms. This was part of a wider event in which other sessions were run for teachers by members of the RSPB team in Orkney and the Orkney Native Wildlife Project.
Exposed peat faces such as this one show where damage has been done over the years.
Over the coming weeks we will be applying for funding through Peatland Action to be able to undertake restoration works over the winter. This is timed to avoid the bird breeding season, however, working at this time of year does present other challenges – when the long and slightly less wet and windy days of summer are a distant memory again!
If you have any questions, do get in touch with us at orkneypeatlands@rspb.org.uk.
Header image shows a patch of cotton grass blowing in the wind. Credit: Andy Hay.