SP Vitality Networks has dedicated £490,000 to a serious peatland restoration undertaking on Scotland’s Slamannan Plateau. Working with Buglife Scotland, the initiative goals to convey over 114 hectares of uncommon bathroom habitat again to life throughout Falkirk and North Lanarkshire – defending distinctive wildlife and serving to battle local weather change.
Peatlands are one among Scotland’s pure powerhouses, locking away huge quantities of carbon and supporting species discovered completely inside these native areas. However years of injury have left the bogs in poor situation. This undertaking will restore 5 key websites by putting in ditches, eradicating timber and creating the wetter circumstances uncommon species just like the Bathroom Solar Jumper Spider and the Massive Heath Butterfly have to survive.
Working till March 2027, the programme will usher in specialist contractors and conservation specialists, whereas additionally involving native communities, faculties and volunteers in hands-on restoration actions. Buglife Scotland has already restored a whole lot of hectares of bathroom within the space, and this new section will full a linked community of habitats throughout the Central Belt.
Melissa Shaw, Peatland Conservation Officer at Buglife Scotland, mentioned: “Wholesome peatlands are important for each biodiversity and local weather motion, offering water storage and defence in opposition to flooding. With this funding from SP Vitality Networks, we will construct upon previous peatland restoration works surrounding the Slamannan Plateau. We’re respiratory life again into these unbelievable pure areas, reconnecting habitats and giving threatened species a combating probability. As soon as these locations are gone, the wildlife and the magic they maintain are gone too – and that’s why this work issues a lot.”
Every winter, the Slamannan Plateau additionally performs host to one of many UK’s most extraordinary wildlife spectacles – the arrival of the uncommon Taiga Bean Goose. The bogs are the one place within the UK these birds go to, flying in from Sweden to spend the colder months on its peatlands. As a part of SP Vitality Networks’ wider work within the space via the Denny to Wishaw (DWNO) improve undertaking, the workforce are additionally funding satellite tv for pc tags to trace their migration, revealing extra about their journey and serving to defend this uncommon seasonal occasion.
Gill Renwick, Sustainability Supervisor at SP Vitality Networks, added: Restoring these peatlands isn’t nearly defending uncommon species – it’s about safeguarding a residing, respiratory a part of Scotland’s pure heritage.
“Our work to construct and preserve the transmission community throughout central and southern Scotland is important within the battle in opposition to local weather change, serving to extra inexperienced power come on-line than ever earlier than. We’re proud to work hand in hand with Buglife Scotland and native communities to verify this habitat thrives lengthy into the long run.”
This initiative is likely one of the flagship initiatives inside SP Vitality Networks’ Motion Plan for Nature, which commits to turning into Nature Constructive in its direct impacts by 2030 – halting and reversing biodiversity loss to realize lasting restoration – and to delivering important habitat enhancements in partnership with organisations equivalent to Buglife Scotland.
