Our precious peatlands have been planted with alien conifers, damaged by drainage, used as dumps and stripped for garden use. But they are increasingly valued for their biodiversity, and the 'ecosystem services' they provide, such as flood prevention and carbon storage
Most or our lowland raised mires are in the Central Belt, Aberdeenshire and in Dumfries and Galloway. Many are small and isolated in landscapes of intensive agriculture.
As well as the bog specialist butterfly, Large Heath, many butterflies and moths that are rare in the lowlands, such as Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Argent & Sable, Lunar Hornet and Wood Tiger can be found on the edges of raised mires associated with the heather and woodlands.
Our volunteer-led Bog Squad has been running since 2014 and continues to work to restore our Wester Moss nature reserve near Stirling, as well as other sites in Scotland. Mending mires means blocking drains, removing Rhododendron and controlling conifers and birch saplings which have the detrimental effect of drying out peatlands. The work is satisfying, fun, and there is something for all abilities. The Bog Squad also carry out surveys and monitoring of butterflies and moths.
Bog Squad Volunteers at Wester Moss. Photo by Polly Phillpot.
If you would like to join in please contact Polly Phillpot, Peatland Restoration Project Officer at [email protected].
The Bog Squad is funded by NatureScot's Peatland ACTION Programme and Butterfly Conservation's Glasgow and SW Scotland and East Scotland Branches.
