“Swampy” goes boggy

Corinna Goeckeritz – National Trust for Scotland

Ditches dammed for NTS bog restoration project

A team of local contractors has been braving wintery conditions restoring an area of blanket bog below Goatfell.
Agricultural improvement measures in the beginning of the 20th century resulted in the drainage of large tracts of blanket bog all across Scotland. On Maol Donn, where the team were working, muir grips had been dug to improve the sward for grazing. The water table was lowered significantly, leading to the degeneration of the bog habitat and the loss of associated flora and fauna.

During the last few years, the National Trust for Scotland Ranger Service has been working to restore two areas of modified blanket bog on the Goatfell property. By damming the drainage ditches, the water table is raised to original levels. Over time, typical bog species including the peat-producing Sphagnum moss and cotton grasses return, once more providing a diverse habitat.