Case studies

In the far north of Scotland is a large, rolling expanse of peatlands and wetlands that makes up almost 5% of the world’s blanket bog. Forsinard Flows nature reserve is a key part of the Flow Country and is the best example of this type of habitat in the world. The RSPB looks after 21,000 hectares of this special place. It’s home to important numbers of breeding water birds, waders and raptors, as well as specialist plants and animals.

Large areas of commercial forestry were planted on deep peat here in the 1970s and 1980s causing the peat to dry out and release stored carbon, as well as damaging special wildlife areas. Parts of the Flow Country are now being restored by RSPB Scotland, land managers and other organisations, with work including the removal of plantations, and ditch blocking to restore water levels. This is encouraging wading birds like golden plovers, dunlins and greenshanks, to return.

This work has been on-going for more than 20 years, and careful monitoring and trialling of techniques has resulted in the development of pioneering restoration practices. The lessons here are now being applied in other upland areas across the country.

As part of the wider work of the Peatlands Partnership, Flows to the Future project, the rejuvenation of this area is also connecting people locally and nationally with this precious habitat, delivering real economic benefits for one of the least densely populated areas in Scotland. The reserve is also maintaining links with surrounding landowners and enables sustainable sporting on lease for low intensity, sensitively managed, traditional ‘walked up’ grouse shooting along with deer stalking.

The restoration of this habitat is central to our work on adapting to climate change and has a vital role to play in Scotland’s collective efforts to reach net zero emissions.

Above Dove Stone reservoir in the Peak District National Park sits an internationally important area of blanket bog. It took around 5000 years to form, but burning and heavy grazing have now reduced large parts of it to bare, eroded peat and deep gullies.

In good condition, peat bogs store large amounts of carbon, which is important in reducing the effects of climate change. They are also important for the quality of drinking water, as they slow the water flow and filter sediment, reducing treatment costs. All that water holding capacity has other benefits too such as the potential to prevent and alleviate flooding during extreme weather events.

Along with the landowners, United Utilities, the RSPB has been working to restore the bog. Key to this is keeping it wet by installing gully blocks made from stone, heather bales and peat. We’ve also been planting sphagnum mosses, one of the key building blocks of blanket bogs.

We also work hard to manage the ever-present risk of fire on Dove Stone, by regularly cutting large swathes of heather. Not only does this provide a buffer and better access to tackle potential fires, it creates a mosaic of habitat for other species to grow where heather was otherwise dominant.

This work of course is also hugely important to benefit breeding waders such as curlew, golden plover and dunlin whose numbers are now increasing at Dove Stone in the restored areas.

Of course, we can’t do this work alone. Building connections within the local community is at the heart of what we do at Dove Stone, and local volunteers have now contributed over 46,000 hours of their time to help restore this landscape.

Nestled in the quiet and remote eastern part of the Lake District National Park, RSPB Haweswater is a dramatic landscape of high fells, rushing rivers, heath, meadow, bog, and woodland. It’s home to a wide range of birds, including pied flycatchers, redstarts, ring ouzels and peregrine falcons, but one of the most valuable habitats are the cliffs and crags. Some of these are extremely rich in plant life. Harter Fell at the head of Haweswater is the best of these with a spectacular display of wildflowers, resembling a vertical garden.

In 2011, the RSPB took over the tenancies of two hill farms here. Working in partnership with our landlord, United Utilities, we began to explore different ways of managing these farms to provide a range of benefits, such as improved water quality, a home for wildlife, carbon stewardship and recreation opportunities.

In Swindale Valley, we put the curves back into a stretch of Swindale Beck, artificially straightened for farming purposes at least 160 years ago. This has slowed the flow of the river, helping to improve water quality and reduce downstream flood risk, as well as attracting spawning salmon. We’ve also restored swathes of species-rich hay meadow, hundreds of hectares of blanket bog and planted tens of thousands of trees.   

On the commons, we've reduced livestock numbers and created fenced areas to help rare mountain plants to recolonise. We’ve also created way-marked trails and run a number of ecotourism initiatives, including guided walks and nature-based events. Working in partnership with local businesses, we host a red squirrel photography hide, glamping and fell pony treks. The reserve employs more people than under previous farming tenants, helping to support the local economy and communities.