Flanders Moss

Introduction

Flanders Moss is the largest lowland raised bog of a cluster on the Carse. Many of the Carse bogs have been damaged, leaving Flanders Moss as the most intact (60% remains), whilst almost completely surrounded by managed farmland.

Management focus for the reserve has been to reverse the trends of drying out caused by past ditching, peat removal and the spread of trees. Ultimately the aim is to restore the water table over the whole peat body to a stable position close to the surface.

Description

Flanders Moss displays many of the classical raised bog features: its four distinctive domes support a carpet of bog mosses and large areas of the bog still accumulate peat. In some areas the peat is seven metres in depth. Average rainfall here is 1131 mm per year, keeping the bog mosses well saturated. Vegetation is dominated by heather, cross-leaved heath and cotton grass with an understorey of Sphagnum spp. (including three with limited national distribution: S. austinii, S. fuscum and S. molle).

Despite the high rainfall some areas of the bog have dried out as a result of past management, and these drier areas now support birch, pine and other tree species. However, in places you can see natural fen (lagg fen) and natural sections of peat dome edge (rand).

Restoration Delivered

Ditch damming:

Damming on site has taken place over the last 20 years, with techniques evolving as the years have gone on. Dams include wooden ones made from oak and elm, to sheet piling, which has been used more recently.  These are more flexible and last longer. Scottish Natural Heritage has also used peat dams for small ditches with a low flow.

In total approximately 35 km's of ditches have been dammed using 1000 dams. Monitoring is showing that they are having the desired outcome, with a higher water table over parts of the bog and sphagnum vegetation returing in once drier areas.

Restoration of lagg fen:

A deep peripheral ditch had replaced the lagg fen that would have naturally occured, so a sluice and a number of dams and bunds have been put in place to recreate this habitat.

Tree and scrub management:

Evidence shows the Flanders Moss had few trees in its past, and encroaching trees were drying out areas of the bog. To recreate the natural habitat, trees and scrub have been removed to keep areas of open big, whilst mature trees have been kept in place. During 1997-98 a conifer plantation on the south side was removed, which had a dramatic impact on water table levels. Sheep grazing helps to control levels of scrub.

Biodiversity

Flora:

Bog specialists thrive, including round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). Rarities can also be found such as white beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba) and bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia).

Fauna:

Flanders Moss has several nationally important populations of rare invertebrates, particularly moths, with 215 species recorded on site. One of these is the Rannoch brindled beauty moth (Lycia lapponaria).

Adder (Vipera berus) and common lizard (Lacerta Zootoca vivipara) are both found here, whilst it is used by many different species of birds throughout the year.

Research

There have been several research projects carried out on Flanders Moss, including:

  • Coventry University - changing climate during and after the Ice Ages and its impact on the landscape
  • Edinburgh University - changing levels of atmospheric heavy metals
  • Forest Research - recovery of bog vegetation following removal of conifer plantation; ways of treating scrub with herbicide
  • Stirling University - remote sensing research; woodland monitoring.
{"zoom":11,"lat":56.1333333,"lon":-4.3166667,"markers":{"0":{"lat":56.1333333,"lon":-4.3166667}}}

Project Name: Flanders Moss

Organisation / Lead partner: NatureScot

Location: Thornhill, Stirling  

Approximate area covered: 860 ha

Conservation Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), National Nature Reserves(NNR)

Predominately: Lowland

Peat Habitats: Lowland raised bog

Project Type: Management

Year Project Began: 1997

Useful Downloads:

    Salmon leaping out of the water. Image credit Stephen Barlow
    New species showcase - Atlantic salmonThe latest in our series of species showcases celebrates the Atlantic salmon and the role that…
    Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in an urban landscape
    New Virtual Peatland Pavilion launched for COP29To raise awareness of the global importance of peatlands during COP29, the latest pavilion has been…
    Cover image for 'The most important plant in the world' showing the film's title in yellow text over a background of Sphagnum moss
    Specially commissioned film celebrates 'The most important plant in the world'The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has commissioned the first in a series of short films, celebrating…
    Cumbrian tarn - large body of water with emergent vegetation and hills in the distance. Image credit Steve Hewert.
    Launch of the Peatland Code Version 2.1The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has launched a new update to the Peatland Code, which helps to boost…
    Flat peatland landscape on fire with large plumes of smoke. Image credit Paul Turner
    New brief highlights the importance of peatland rewetting for wildfire resilienceThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme's latest publication explores recent evidence from the UK and North…
    Painting of a river in spate: Peter Graham 1866, 'A spate in the highlands'
    Call for proposals for Water Research Seminar SeriesThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and the Environment Agency are delighted to announce a series of…
    'Work in progress' sign with a digger on it next to two photographs of children drawing on large sheets of paper
    The Power of the Peat Bogs! How pupils turned their environmental education into a song Primary school pupils who have engaged with a project to restore ancient peatland and traditional…
    SWPP award
    South West Peatland Partnership awarded gold by Global Good AwardsThe South West Peatland Partnership won a Gold award at the Global Good Awards for their work…
    Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in a desert landscape
    Seeking content for the COP29 Virtual Peatland PavilionThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and Global Peatlands Initiative are seeking new content for an…
    UK Peatland Strategy
    New report celebrates UK peatland restoration – but climate and nature targets still at riskAnalysis reveals 250,000 hectares of peatland restoration activity over 30 years – way short of the…
    Peatland at Inshriach, Allt a’ Mharcaidh
    Largest ever gathering of UK peatland experts to celebrate ‘Peatlands, People and Nature’ in the Cairngorms National ParkAviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is to play host to the UK’s largest gathering of peatland…
    Landscape of mountains and forest
    View the full programme for #PeatConf24 and book your tickets now!The full programme for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme 2024 conference ‘Peatlands, People and Nature…