Grantee: Wild Ewe

Duration:  16 months (September 2025 – December 2026) 

 

Background

Peatland is an internationally important habitat, crucial in terms of carbon storage, water quality, and boosting biodiversity. There is growing momentum behind peatland restoration in Scotland, with large scale funding through the Scottish Government Peatland ACTION programme.

While landscape-scale initiatives are vital, there is also potential to restore peatland at the local scale, bringing benefits to both wildlife and communities.

The Project

Rewilding Bac Dubh is a project led by Wild Ewe, who own and manage a 92-acre site adjacent to the village of Poolewe, Wester Ross. Here, 20 acres of peatland have been historically cut for fuel, resulting in an eroded landscape that is drying out and releasing carbon.

This project will restore peatland through targeting a burn that runs across the peatland for ½ a mile. Working with the expert River Revivers, a series of ‘leaky dams’ will be constructed with the help of volunteers. This will hold back water, enhancing the biodiversity of the burn and surrounding peatland.

Lessons will be shared by other members of Northwoods Rewilding Network, and inform future conservation work at Bac Dubh.