Talla, Gameshope & Carrifran

Introduction

The Talla, Gameshope & Carrifran peatland restoration project covers six pockets of degraded peatland totalling 104.12 ha in the Scottish Borders, near Moffat. It is part of a much larger landscape scale restoration project. Borders Forest Trust took ownership of Talla & Gameshope in 2013 with the overriding objective of restoring this intensively grazed, extensive area of hill ground and associated upland valleys to their natural state. More than 220,000 trees and shrubs have been planted at Talla & Gameshope since 2013.

Description

This peatland restoration project covers over 100 ha of degraded blanket bog. One of these areas - Rotten Bottom - is historically significant. A broken bow was found in the bog which dated back 6000 years to hunter gatherer inhabitants. This alerted the attention of the scientific community, who proceeded to take a core sediment sample from the peat. From this sample, the pollen count from 1000s of years ago painted the picture of the tree species mix that dominated at the time, prior to significant human intervention. This informed the replanting of Carrifran Wildwood which began in 2000.

Project Aims

The aim of the project is to deliver the restoration of 3.54 ha of actively eroding and 85.96 ha of drained blanket bog (as has been defined within the Peatland Code field protocol), totalling 89.5 ha. The objective from carrying out this work is to deliver a range of co-benefits, alongside a reduction of future emissions. These co-benefits include improved conditions for biodiversity, supporting higher flora, fauna. Increased insect populations provides food for red-list species including Black Grouse and Hen Harriers. The restoration will work to improve resilience of fish populations (due to enhanced water storage capacity of these upland areas), and enhanced water catchment management in the Tweed catchment which is prone to flooding.

Restoration Delivered

The restoration has taken place, from which these sites are already benefitting. New pools were found to be forming on the restoration sites in the summer of 2021, with reports of dragonflies spotted actively defending the pools.

Site Activity

Another key objective of the project is to demonstrate the advantages of blending private and public funding sources. It is hoped that the ability to deliver a project of this scale, and to ensure its long term management using both funding sources will act as an exemplar for other projects to follow.

{"zoom":12,"lat":55.4805592,"lon":-3.4187903,"markers":{"0":{"lat":55.493273259,"lon":-3.414870699}}}

Project Name: Talla, Gameshope & Carrifran

Organisation / Lead partner: Forest Carbon Ltd

Location: Moffat, Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway

Approximate area covered: 104 ha

Conservation Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Predominately: Upland

Peat Habitats: Blanket bog

Project Type: Restoration

Year Project Began: 2020

Peatland Code site: Peatland Code site - Under development

    Buchan Bog Buddies
    Buchan Bog Buddies The RSPB and Aberdeenshire Rangers have been working with P6/P7 classes at New Pitsligo and…
    Global Peatlands Initiative
    Global Peatlands Initiative project: State of the Worlds Peatlands On the 17th of November 2022, at the UNFCCC COP27 in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, the Global Peatlands…
    Area of Dartmoor undergoing restoration methods, January 2023
    South West Peatland Partnership: Counting sheep to help restore peat across the UK's South WestPeatland restoration isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It takes a range of innovative techniques…
    Birchinlee (c) Moors for the Future Partnership
    Moors for the Future Partnership releases series of scientific and monitoring reports from MoorLIFE 2020 projectIn September 2022, MoorLIFE 2020, the landmark project which had been the focus of much of the work…
    Sphagnum moss regrowth rewards the peatland restoration action undertaken by NPAP at Tywi Forest
    Wales Peatland Action By mid-2022 National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP) could reflect on a successful initial two…
    Cuilcagh Mountain after restoration work
    Ulster Wildlife webinar: Lessons learned: 20+ years on from blanket bog restoration at Cuilcagh MountainJoin Ulster Wildlife, RPS Ireland and the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark to discuss what…
    Peatland code version 2.0
    Launch of the Peatland Code Version 2.0The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has today launched a new and highly anticipated update to the…
    Molinia, Peatlands and Climate Transition Workshop
    Save the Date: Molinia, Peatlands and Climate Transition Workshop’Hosted by National Trust Marsden Moor, the ‘Molinia, Peatlands and Climate Transition Workshop’…
    Demonstrating Success cover art
    Peat-free Horticulture Addendum: Further case studies released This addendum to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme's 'Demonstrating Success - Peat-free Horticulture'…
    England Peat Map team at Winmarleigh Moss
    Working Towards a Peat Data StandardThe England Peat Map project is mapping the extent, depth and condition of England’s peat. Find out…
    Cors Caron Copywrite Drew Buckley Photography
    Conference 2022 - Registration closedRegistration for this year's IUCN UK Peatland Programme conference taking place live in Aberystwyth…
    Mar Estate © Mark Nicolson
    100 Project Milestone for the Peatland CodeThe Peatland Code now has 100 projects registered under the UK La