Amenity trust to stage ‘peatbog restoration day’ at Sandy Loch
Jim TaitTo coincide with the global climate strike on Friday, Shetland Amenity Trust is inviting people to go along and take some practical action on climate change.
The trust has organised a peatbog restoration day where participants can learn about the valuable role peatlands play in tackling climate change and to get involved in restoring these incredible carbon stores.
Peatlands officer Sue White said: “A healthy peatland acts like a massive battery which stores carbon. When vegetation is eroded and the peat is exposed to the elements it releases carbon, contributing to climate change.
“Much of Shetland’s peatlands are degraded and emit a huge amount of CO2. It is possible, however, to restore our peat bogs and the Shetland Amenity Trust, with funding from SNH Peatland Action, have been tackling several sites throughout Shetland.”
The trust is working with Scottish Water at the Sandy Loch reservoir near Lerwick to restore the peat in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions and improve the quality of the drinking water.
The trust is inviting people to go along to the site at Sandy Loch on Friday to find out more about the valuable role that peatlands play in the climate and help with ongoing work to restore the peatbog.
The event will take place from 10am to 3pm. Participants can meet at the South Road end of Sandy Loch at 10am to walk to the site or drop in at any time during the day.
Participants should wear appropriate clothing and footwear for being out on the hill. No previous experience is needed, just a desire to do something positive about climate change.
For more information please get in touch with Sue White at info@shetlandamenity.org or call the trust on (01595) 694688.
Raymond Ferrie
I think they will have a big job soon up over Scallafield when Viking Energy is done putting up their windmills. Hope they have perfected their techniques by then. Good luck everyone. I do admire your motives and your tenacity. We do need to address the issues on Climate Change. I fear, though, Viking Energy ripping up the peatland to put up windmills is rather contradictory. I hope my pessimism doesn’t put anyone off. We still need to try and do something……… try planting a few trees for example. and please leave the peat intact. Well done to all who turn out on the day to try and make a difference.
Robert Sandison
I believe there was a live firing range to the north of the Sandy Loch during WW2 and this would account for the poor state of the land there . It was common to find bits of used ordnance lying around there such as grenade plugs etc These usually carried dates ranging from 1940 to 1944 .
John Irvine
I can’t believe I’ve just read that…. What about all the peat that will be dug up by Viking Energy? All the co2 released which will never be reclaimed even after everything is considered! When will someone be big enough in the council stand up and say enough is enough and put a spanner in the works of this utter madness?
Wayne Conroy
Come one come all and learn about peat bog restoration and its value to the climate.
Then watch as half the peat in Shetland is dug up to be replaced by wind turbines, roads to wind turbines and sf6 producing stations. The carbon and sf6 that will be produced in the construction and upkeep of VE will far outweigh any positive impact on the environment that these windmills are going to negate. To call it a project in green energy is a joke.
(p.s. not a dig at amenity trust – just a VE rant!)