Local views sought on the Flow Country at drop-in events throughout Caithness and Sutherland this month

The Flow Country Partnership is taking its project on the road for a 16-day consultation tour of Caithness and Sutherland, starting on Monday (May 9).

It is the most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world and this remarkable place is so important that it could soon join Victoria Falls and The Rocky Mountains on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list.

The Flow Country Partnership, which includes Highland Council, wants to share the fantastic progress that has been made with this project and hear your thoughts on what a World Heritage Site could bring to the area.

The Flow Country is being nominated for the world class blanket bog it contains and the specialised biodiversity it supports. The site boundary has been drawn to encapsulate these elements and as such is largely based on the existing designated sites which can be found in the region (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). It is these existing designations that provide the protection to the site.

World Heritage listing would be an incredible accolade for the area and the communities that live and work there, and it is hoped it will also bring economic benefits.

To find out more about the project and share your thoughts, the partnership would be delighted to welcome you along to one of its drop-in events. The consultation starts in Sutherland at the Brora Community Centre on May 9, moving to the Community Lounge in Golspie the next day and on to Timespan, Helmsdale, on Wednesday.

The drop-in sessions move to Caithness on Thursday, starting in the Dunbeath Heritage Centre, Lybster Community Centre on Friday and Pulteney Centre, Wick, on Monday, May 16. On Tuesday, May 17, the venue will be Reay Village Hall, then the following day the event will be held in Thurso Library, followed by the Ross Institute, Halkirk, on the Thursday.

Friday, May 20, the events will head over to north west Sutherland, starting in Strathy Village Hall, then Bettyhill Library on Monday, May 23, Tongue Community Hall on Tuesday and Altnaharra Hotel on Wednesday, Kildonan Community Hall, Thursday, and Halladale Hall, Forsinain, on Friday. The final session will be held in the Lairg Community Centre on Monday, May 30.

All the drop-in events will take place from 11am-7pm, with the exception of the one in Thurso, which will finish at 6pm.

There will be maps, videos and plenty of information about the work the partnership is doing, as well as opportunities to contribute your ideas to the consultation. There will also be plenty of tea and coffee.

If you cannot make it along to one of the drop-in events, you can also share your thoughts by visiting our online consultation: https://flowcountry.commonplace.is/

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.