Raising the Bogs

Raised bogs are an amazing habitat, formed when lakes or low-lying land fill with vegetation, which partially decays and then builds up to a point where it is raised above the surrounding landscape. They are home to many specialised and fascinating types of animals and plants, including carnivorous sundews, large heath butterflies, as well as birds such as jack snipe. At their core are peat-forming bog-mosses, which come in an array of striking colours and give the bogs their spongy feel.

Unfortunately, the area of good quality lowland raised bog in the UK is estimated to have diminished by around 94% , which is one of the reasons it is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitat and in Annex 1 of the Habitats Directive.

To protect these special places, we worked with RSPB Scotland and local landowners to return them to their natural state. With the help of contractors, volunteers and our Green Network Trainees, we removed unwanted scrub which can rob bogs of their moisture, causing them to dry out. Working with the Butterfly Conservation's Bog Squad, we also installed new dams, which will help raise the water table of the bog and support this process even more. 

The amount of incredible wildlife spotted on these work days goes to show how important bogs are, with everything from buff-tip moths right up to hen harriers being recorded.