Young Europeans find out about Flow Country's importance
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YOUNG people from the Continent learned first-hand about the importance of the Flow Country when they spent two weeks visiting the area.
RSPB Scotland played host to 13 volunteers from different parts of Europe as part of the World Heritage Volunteer programme, with the Forsinard Flows team organising a programme of activities for them.
The events included taking part in conservation tasks on the RSPB Scotland reserve, including removing over 30,000 non-native conifer saplings from the Flow Country to help the restoration process of the delicate peatlands, which are vitally important in the face of climate change. Participants learned that the management of this landscape is a complex process.
The volunteers also found out a great deal about the culture and history of the Flow Country, experiencing music from the Fèis Rois Celidh Trail musicians, learning ceilidh dances and listening to Melvich Gaelic Choir, as well as visiting the museums in Strathnaver and Castletown.
Jill Harden, RSPB Scotland’s archaeologist, spent a day on the reserve with the volunteers taking them back in time to Neolithic settlements and Iron Age brochs, and showing them evidence of the Highland Clearances.
RSPB Scotland warden Claire Foot-Turner said: “We were delighted to host the Unesco young volunteers at RSPB Scotland Forsinard Flows. They were full of enthusiasm and energy for the Flow Country, its culture and conservation. What they helped us achieve on the conservation work parties was amazing.”
One of the volunteers, Martha Fleurant, said: “It was amazing that everyone was so welcoming and helped us to feel at home. Everything was very diverse and we got the chance to do different things, both natural and cultural.”
The Flow Country was chosen as the UK location for the World Heritage Volunteer programme this year, under the framework of the Unesco World Heritage Education Programme, and is part of the heritage project which is aiming to secure World Heritage Site status for the Flows.
