On Sunday Butterfly Conservation Scotland's Bog Squad was once again at Fannyside Muir near Cumbernauld. This vast stretch of peatland has been extensively damaged in the past but is now making a much needed recovery thanks to some large scale restoration being led by Buglife. The Bog Squad has lent a hand on two previous occasions and we were back again.....
The task for the volunteers this time was to continue with the removal of Lodgepole pine seedlings from the northern end of the bog. This area was drained and planted up with pine during the 1970's before later suffering from fires that swept across the bog and killed off the trees. The seeds of Lodgepole pine are specially adapted to burst into life following fire events though and this has resulted in a large area of Fannyside becoming a forest of pine saplings.
The task for the volunteers this time was to continue with the removal of Lodgepole pine seedlings from the northern end of the bog. This area was drained and planted up with pine during the 1970's before later suffering from fires that swept across the bog and killed off the trees. The seeds of Lodgepole pine are specially adapted to burst into life following fire events though and this has resulted in a large area of Fannyside becoming a forest of pine saplings.
Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) is a species native to the western seaboard of Canada and the USA where it is noted for its ability to withstand waterlogged soil conditions. Thus making this alien species to the UK an ideal candidate to be planted on bogs! Unfortunately this practice endangers the precious peat resource below the trees leaving it vulnerable to drying out and potentially releasing large quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.
After several hours of hard graft the volunteers had ensured that another 8.5 hectares of Fannyside can be declared pine free. Another great result for the Bog Squad which means that more than half the area of pine has now been cleared in just two work parties! Many thanks to all those who came along to help out. Next up for the Bog Squad is Blairbeich this coming Sunday - perhaps see some of you there.....