Biodiversity

The Peatlands Partnership
Caithness & Sutherland

Scottish Natural Heritage

Linda Hutton
Peatlands Project Officer
SGRPID
Strathbeg House
Clarence Street
Thurso
Caithness
KW14 7JS
E-mail: Linda.Hutton@snh.gov.uk
Tel: 01847 893104

Andrew Coupar
Policy & Advice Manager
E-mail: Andrew.Coupar@snh.gov.uk
Tel: 01463 725247

RSPB
Norrie Russell
Forsinard Reserve Manager
E-mail: Norrie.Russell@rspb.org.uk
Tel: 01641 571225

Pete Mayhew
Senior Conservation Manager
E-mail: Pete.Mayhew@rspb.org.uk
Tel: 01463 715000

Forestry Commission Scotland
Tim Cockerill
E-mail:
Tim.Cockerill@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 01862 810359

Bob Dunsmore
E-mail:
Bob.Dunsmore@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 01349 862144

Plantlife International
Joe Costley
Reserves Manager
E-mail: Joe.Costley@plantlife.org.uk
Tel: 01722 342734

North Sutherland Community
Forest Trust
Billy MacLean
Sawyer/Manager
Tel: 01641 571353

The Peatlands Partnership was formed at the end of 2006 following the completion of the LIFE Peatlands Project and aims to develop and build on that project. The Partnership comprises 'core' organisations, together with other interested organisation and individuals, who will carry out and help fund the objectives set out in the Management Strategy document, 'The Peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland'.

6 July 09
Forsinain Trail - A Four Mile Circular Route (Pdf)
Sitting on the edge of Caithness & Sutherland’s high quality bogs, the four mile Forsinain Trail is selfguided and takes in farm fields, bog pools, riverside and woodland allowing an insight into conservation management and exciting wildlife.  It starts on The Flows National Nature Reserve, part of RSPB Forsinard Nature Reserve, continues through Forestry Commission Scotland’s Forsinain Forest and returns along the privately owned River Halladale salmon river. This circular trail which rises 100m to the bog begins at the roadside car park on the River Halladale before ascending the farm road through fields used intensively by feeding and breeding peatland bird species. As there is a steep hill on the farm road, a small car park has been created above it for the sole use of disabled drivers which will provide views and bird watching into the adjacent fields. Further on, the trail follows a grassy track to the top of the fields and out onto a small area of blanket bog with peat cutting and bog pools, which is crossed on flagstone stepping stones. The trail then follows an unsurfaced route for approximately one mile through a conifer plantation with restoration felling and passing close to a loch where red-throated divers sometimes breed. Descending on the forest road the final section follows an unsurfaced route along the grassy riverbanks of the River Halladale with a short climb to a viewpoint on the way.

22 September 08
Newsletter - Issue 2 (Pdf)
The second edition of the Peatlands Partnership Newsletter has some updates and several interesting articles including -
A Look At Developments At Forsinard by Norrie Russell
Looking Back To Look Forward by Dr. Althea Davies with details of her latest research project.
Wind Farms In Caithness & Sutherland by Andrew Coupar
Wind Farms On Blanket Bog by Andrew Coupar
Forsinain Trail Opening
Keeping the Bogs Healthy by Norrie Russell
The Peatlands Project will soon have a new web site.  The Peatlands Project has been consulted about information to be on show at Caithness Horizons in the refurbished Thurso Town Hall

1 November 07
Newsletter - Issue 1 (Pdf)