Peatland Restoration on Islay
Around 60% of Islay, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides islands, is covered in peat.
Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) has for the last five years been one of 11 cross border partners working with the Collaborative Action for the Natura Network (CANN) Project. EU Funded by INTERREG VA Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the projects have been working to save peatlands and wetlands across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
The Islay project has carried out extensive work at Eilean na Muice Duibhe (Duich Moss) and Rinns of Islay, both Special Areas of Conservation. This has involved monitoring the sites, collecting environmental data, controlling invasive species, particularly Rhododendron Ponticum, developing deer management plans, and developing conservation action plans for the sites.
ACT has now been successful in securing funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to try to expand the range of landowners engaging in Peatland Action and the Peatland Code. The project hopes to engage with the wider community, draw in Islay’s main industry - whisky distilleries, and share the project model and lessons learned as they go along.
Thank you to ACT, SAMS and to Jenny Love for use of photographs for this page. Please do not reproduce without permission.
