Over 300 hectares of peatland has been restored on the hills surrounding a key Scottish Water reservoir in Angus.
A total of 338 hectares of peatland has now been restored at a remote stretch of upland ground near Backwater Reservoir in north-west Angus, with work being split into two phases over the course of the year beginning in April.
The project is part of a catchment scale approach to protecting the source water quality of the reservoir, as well as improving biodiversity and capturing carbon.
Restoring peatland is key to holding water within the land, rather than it running straight off the hills into the reservoir during times of heavy rainfall. This helps to reduce the amount of organic matter, such as dissolved carbon, in the water making the treatment process simpler and less energy intensive.
There are plans for a third phase of work to be carried out in 2026, targeting another 192 hectares of peatland – making it one of Scottish Water’s biggest peatland restoration projects so far.
“This work is key to managing our catchment areas responsibly and helping to support an environment that is more resilient to climate change, while also protecting our source waters for customers.”
Scottish Water project manager Mike Ross
The work has been delivered by contractors Mackenzie Construction, working with specialist partner McGowan Environmental. Regular ecology surveys and close collaboration with local stakeholders, including Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), landowners and the local raptor group, have been central to the project’s delivery.
Scottish Water project manager Mike Ross said: “It is great to see the first two phases of this peatland restoration project completed at Backwater Restoration.
“This work is key to managing our catchment areas responsibly and helping to support an environment that is more resilient to climate change, while also protecting our source waters for customers.”
He added: “A number of techniques have been used throughout this project such as peat hag reprofiling, wave damming and coir netting – all aimed at creating the conditions the peatland needs to thrive, stopping water from flowing straight off the hill and preventing any further erosion.”
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