During the 1970s and 80s, vast swathes of peatland were planted with non-native conifer trees, which sucked the water from the fragile peat. Peat acts like a carbon sponge that when dried out releases 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. This is equivalent to the total annual carbon emissions of the city of Edinburgh. Large areas of blanket bog habitat have been lost, with a devastating impact on wildlife and climate change.

We have acquired a piece of land from which we urgently need to remove 116 hectares of plantation. The water table will rise again, re-wetting the dried out peat. In time, the land will re-vegetate with beautiful mosses and plants. This fragile plant layer prevents carbon escaping into the atmosphere – acting as the lungs of our planet. We will also convert 16 hectares to appropriate native woodland, providing prime habitat for a variety of species, including the rare Scottish wildcat.