Discover what we’re doing to conserve this working landscape for the benefit of threatened species such as Curlews, Lapwings and Hen Harriers.
Our vision is for landscape-scale habitat restoration and sustainable land management. This will be achieved through regenerative and nature-friendly farming and innovated habitat management across designated sites, our reserve holding and the wider farmed landscape.
The sight of lekking Black Grouse, sky-dancing Hen Harriers and displaying Curlews will become a common spectacle. Alongside them, restored peatlands will support diverse ground flora and fauna in a living and working landscape.
The Muirkirk and Lowther and Upper Clyde Valley Priority Landscape area covers over 130,000ha (hectares). Central to this in the southwest is the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protected Area (SPA), which accounts for 20% of the landscape.
RSPB Airds Moss sits centrally and is encompassed by both the SPA and the Airds Moss Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The lower floodplain, defined by the Clyde Valley and its tributaries that weave across farmland in the east, is notable for its high density of breeding waders.
Our Priority Landscape covers an area of over 132,000ha of upland and lowland across South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire and north Dumfriesshire.
At the centre of the landscape is the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area (SPA) with breeding and wintering Hen Harriers and breeding Short-eared Owls, Merlins, Peregrines and Golden Plovers as its qualifying species.
The site is assessed by NatureScot as being in Unfavourable condition due to the decline in all qualifying species and wider assemblages. Our reserve at Airds Moss includes the Airds Moss Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which is designated for its blanket bog habitat.
The Muirkirk Uplands SSSI and the North Lowther Uplands SSSI designated for their breeding and wintering bird interest and peatland habitats.
Climate change is having a negative effect on the ecological resilience of our landscapes through the degradation of habitat and loss of species. The restoration of sensitive upland habitats including deep peat and wetlands, through our conservation work, will help to reduce its impact.
This Priority Landscape lies at the heart of the Southern Uplands and has a rich diversity of breeding birds, especially waders, birds of prey and Black Grouse. However, it is in constant flux because of changes in landscape practices including farming, new commercial forestry or renewables development.
Over time, these can alter both the extent and distribution of species and habitats. Our work over the past decade, through partnerships and liaison with communities, farmers and landowners, has laid solid foundations on which to conserve and enhance existing biodiversity.
Increase the area of land well managed for nature for our priority species and habitats.
Contribute to the recovery of designated sites’ condition and qualifying species.
Utilise our own land holding as an exemplar of land management to support wider countryside initiatives.
Support the wider landowner and farming community in managing habitat to benefit priority species including breeding waders and Black Grouse.
Lead on the research of innovated management of farmed in-bye to support priority species.
We’re managing and enhancing habitat on our reserve at Airds Moss to restore habitats for breeding waders and raptors.
We’re supporting landowners and farmers in managing for breeding waders and peatlands in the wider countryside; surveying and monitoring species trends and responding to development applications to manage impacts and maximise benefits for our priority species.
We delivered 900ha of peatland restoration in the Muirkirk SPA through the Cooperation Across Borders for Biodiversity (CABB) project between 2017 and 2020; secured funding through NatureScot to remove 1,200ha of seeded Sitka Spruce from deep peat; restored 160ha of peatlands and wetlands on our Airds Moss reserve.
We have worked with over 25 farm and estates within the Clyde Valley to create habitat to benefit breeding Lapwings through the roll out of rotational brassica crops, which has been confirmed through our monitoring, as a habitat associated with high hatching success.
Keep an eye on this page for updates about our work in the Muirkirk & Lowther and Upper Clyde Valley Priority Landscape.
We’re working alongside numerous stakeholders across the area including NatureScot, SAC, Scottish Forestry, the farming community, Landowners, Estates, County Councils and Scottish Government.
The following RSPB nature reserves form part of the Muirkirk & Lowther & Upper Clyde Valley Priority Landscape:
RSPB Airds Moss reserve does not have public access due extensive areas of deep peat and the inherent inaccessibility associated with that habitat.