Plan to preserve rare wilderness

Work has already begun to preserve the bog

Work has begun to save one of the last remaining natural wildernesses in Falkirk.

The Darnrig Moss, a lowland raised bog at Slamannan, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The eastern part of the bog was destroyed when it was used for opencast coal mining in the 1980s.

About £20,000 is being spent to preserve the site by Scottish Natural Heritage and local land owners Colin and Isobel Herd.

The pair own the 78-hectre site and are helping fund the preservation work through the rural stewardship scheme.

Darnrig Moss SSSI is a very important part of the biodiversity of the local area Katrina Marshall SNH

Colin, who runs Easter Jawcraig Farm, said: "It is unfortunate that so much of this habitat has been destroyed in recent years which makes the efforts of SNH and ourselves to preserve the remaining bog so very important."

The untouched parts of the site have a carpet of sphagnum moss, heather, cotton grasses and plants such as cranberry and a locally rare plant water sedge (carex aquatilis).

SNH said 94% of the UK's lowland raised bogs have been lost since the end of the 19th century due to industrial peat extraction, drainage and modification.

Retreating glaciers

The bogs are now being recognised not only as vital habitats but also as carbon sinks - trapping carbon dioxide which could help to reduce global warming.

Katrina Marshall, SNH's area officer responsible for the moss, said: "Darnrig Moss SSSI is a very important part of the biodiversity of the local area.

"To protect and restore the moss we have been working in partnership with Mr Herd and have agreed management plans for its conservation.

"The £20,000 work, taking place during the first few months of this year, will improve the parts that have deteriorated over time and enable the moss to be maintained in good condition for the future."

Lowland bogs started to form about 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age with a shallow loch made by retreating glaciers.