Farmers plan to restore nearly 1,000 hectares of peat

Summarised from Edinburgh Live's report · Updated 15 Oct, 13:44 · Archive

Farmers are planning to restore nearly 1,000 hectares of peatland across the Pentlands, spanning four local authorities.

Farmers across four local authorities are planning to restore nearly 1,000 hectares of peatland in the Pentlands. The farmer-led social enterprise Project L and Community Enterprise Ltd has notified Midlothian Council of the work, which will also extend into Edinburgh, West Lothian and the Scottish Borders. The project is planned to take place over three years.

The restoration aims to restore degraded and drained peatland towards healthier, naturally functioning blanket bog. Work will include measures to reduce peat erosion and water loss, raise and stabilise the water table, retain stored carbon, and support peat-forming vegetation. Peatlands store carbon and provide important benefits for biodiversity and water quality. The enterprise says peatland restoration plays a critical role in Scotland's response to climate change and biodiversity emergencies, noting that around 75 per cent of Scotland's peatlands are degraded and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Funding will be sought from the Scottish Government's Peatland ACTION Restoration Fund to carry out the work. One area within Eastside Farm in Midlothian covers 135.4 hectares of blanket bog.

Read the report

• Peat restoration plan in the Pentlands will target nearly 1,000 hectares of landThe project is being led by farmers and relies on funding from the Scottish Government backed Peat ACTION Restoration FundEdinburgh Live · 15 Oct, 12:56

In this story: Pentlands · Midlothian Council · Edinburgh · West Lothian · Scottish Borders · Project L and Community Enterprise Ltd · Scottish Government · Scotland

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