Ambitious plans to restore peatland across the north-east were announced yesterday.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority and Scottish Natural Heritage group have joined forces with landowners to carry out work at a number of estates as part of a £6.7million project.
Glenmullie on the Glenlivet Estate at Tomintoul, Edinglassie near Huntly and the Mar estate near Braemar have all signed up to the scheme.
Conservation of peatland is a crucial aspect of the Scottish Government’s programme to meet climate change and biodiversity obligations.
It is estimated that 80% of the UK’s remaining peatlands have been damaged by historical drainage and extraction works and it is hoped that careful conservation of the sites can help reverse their declining fortunes.
Edinglassie spokesman Malcolm Hay said: “Restoring peatland does not have any short term economic benefit to an estate, but the long term value of the public benefits is immeasurable.
“We have undertaken the restoration not for commercial reasons but to repair damage from many decades ago.”
The Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Hamish Trench added: “There is a good enthusiasm among land managers in the National Park to contribute to peatland restoration targets, and it’s great to see innovative work being carried out on this scale.”
