Moor project could help reduce flooding in the area
WORK is under way to restore almost 1,000 hectares of peatland across Inverclyde in a move which could help to reduce flooding across the area.
Inverclyde Council has received funding for two peatland restoration projects - one focused on Duchal Moor, and another on Dowries Farm.
The Duchal Moor project will see the rejuvenation of 788 hectares of drained peatland between now and 2026.
Inverclyde Council received £768,705 from NatureScot’s Peatland Action partnership in 2023, which is being used to fund three phases of the ambitious project.
The council is thought to be one of the first local authorities in Scotland to carry out peatland restoration on this scale, as work will take place across an area which is larger than 780 football pitches and contains 13.5million tonnes of peat.
The separate restoration of 155.5 hectares of peatland at Dowries Farm is now complete thanks to a £103,981 grant from Peatland Action.
Environmental experts say that bringing peatland back to life can reduce the amount of greenhouse bases emitted into the atmosphere, slow down water flow, prevent flooding, and provide habitats for a range of wildlife, which improves biodiversity.
Councillor Paul Cassidy, Inverclyde Council’s vice-convener of environment and regeneration, said the Duchal Moor project ‘stands as a beacon of environmental stewardship’.
He added: “By undertaking one of the largest peatland restoration efforts in Scotland by a local authority, we’re not only cutting carbon emissions but we are also championing biodiversity while advancing towards our goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, in line with Scottish Government targets.
“This project is one of the ways that we can do this while also giving back to our communities.
“We’re in a climate emergency and we must do all we can individually, and collectively, to reduce carbon emissions and support initiatives like this that will help improve the environment.
“I’m proud that with our environmental leadership in Inverclyde we are leading the way with bold projects like this.
“I look forward to seeing this work continue and discovering the impact it will have on wildlife and biodiversity in the area.”
The teams involved in restoring peatland across Inverclyde learned that around 60 years ago, much of the peatland across the area had drainage ditches cut into it to create moorland hunting estates.
The three phases at Duchal Moor will block more than 100km of these drains and gullies to reduce the speed at which water runs off the hills.
More than 30km of steep-sided hags and gullies will be re-profiled to stop them eroding and help them revegetate.
Ian Duff, a tenant farmer on Hardridge Farm, which is a 4,000acre sheep farm on Duchal Moor, says he ‘can’t see any downsides’ to the project.
Mr Duff added: “The benefits for the farm are going to be that a lot of the hill drains will be filled, so the danger of losing lambs in the drains will be negated. “Access over the peat hags to gather the sheep might be improved.”
Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan said he’s pleased Mr Duff is supporting the project.
He added: “As well as restoring this vital natural environment, this work will trap water in the hills and take the strain off our flood defence systems. “That means in future there will be less chance of people being flooded out of their homes or floods hitting our travel network.” Peatland Action is a NatureScot partnership involving Scottish Water, Forestry and Land Scotland, and the national parks. The development and delivery of restoration projects are being supported by Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network’s peatlands initiative, which aims to increase the rate and scale of peatland restoration, and by the Yearn Stane project.