Camster Peatland Regeneration will benefit Flow Country
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Two Caithness locals have put their heads together for a new initiative to restore an area of the Flow Country at Camster.
Camster Peatland Regeneration is the brainchild of factor and Scottish charitable incorporated organisation (SCIO) trustee Peter Darmady together with project manager Louise Smith.
Peter and Louise were at last week’s Focus North business conference in Wick where they talked about the new partnership and how it will make a positive impact on the environment.
“Camster Peatland Regeneration is located mid-county in a 400ha moorland of the Flow Country. The blanket bog which is being restored includes 100ha of hard ground – a grassy oasis in a sea of moss,” said Peter.
“Off an unclassified single-track road running between the villages of Lybster and Watten, adjacent to the Grey Cairns of Camster, the land has seen many uses: sheep farming, a grouse moor, mono-culture forestry, home to families and wind turbines alike. The land has been deforested, mined, ploughed, drained, over-grazed, reforested and exploited over the millennia. Now is the time for the land to fight back.”
Peter says that a change of ownership brings “new thinking to the area” alongside peatland restoration, tree planting and path building which will open up the land for recreational use.
“This net zero, environmental and educational project removes 50 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere every year.
“Green features include the millefiori tapestry of sphagnum mosses and star mosses – home to many species including spiders and midges, as well as the carnivorous butterworts and sundews.”
Louise says that half of the 400ha has already been subjected to a £150k peatland restoration project, part of Peatland ACTION, which is fully funded by the Scottish Government.
“The Camster Peatland Regeneration SCIO has plans to restore a further 100ha with another 100ha having improved public access, providing socio-economic and job opportunities.
“The scheme includes a network of disabled access paths and bridleways linking several archaeological sites, including brochs, a cemetery, grave-watcher’s hut and stells as well as viewpoints.”
Open to the public, paths take in areas of birch, alder, willow and blueberry. A flight pond will increase opportunities for water birds, and riparian planting will shade the Camster Burn with its trout, water vole and otter populations. Interpretative panels will describe what Caithness was like in neolithic times moving through the differing eras to the present day.
This recreational destination provides an area for walks and connecting with the history of the area, as well as job opportunities.
Louise added: “We are pleased to be taking this project forward and we hope it creates opportunities for young people, in particular.”
