In the 1980s, Scotland planted commercial trees across parts of a 9,000-year-old peatland

In the 1980s, Scotland planted commercial trees across parts of the 9,000-year-old Flow Country peatland.

Conservationists are now removing those trees to protect wildlife and keep stored carbon in the ground.

The Flow Country covers over 400,000 hectares in Caithness and Sutherland and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2024, the first peatland to receive this status.

The tree planting drained the bog, dried peat soil, and threatened birds like Golden Plovers, Dunlins, and Greenshanks, leading to habitat destruction.

Pressure from the Nature Conservancy Council and RSPB forced the government to change policies and stop further planting.