Ridge Dell team hosts education day for primary school pupils

Pupils from Kilchuimen Primary School, Fort Augustus, recently took part in an educational day hosted by our team at Ridge Dell, a peatland restoration project near Inverness.

The day was hosted by the Natural Capital Laboratory in Whitebridge, Loch Ness, where the children took part in a talk on rewilding, looked at the water absorption capacities of sphagnum mosses, and learned how lenses and augers are used in assessing peatland health.

During their visit, pupils heard about the need to protect peatlands and keep them healthy so they can support our ecosystems and protect our planet.

Healthy peatlands are nature’s carbon vaults, storing and capturing carbon dioxide, a global warming greenhouse gas while conversely, degraded peatlands release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The Ridge Dell project spans 100 hectares and aims to reduce over 23,000t CO2 emissions.

It was developed by Ridge Carbon Capture with funding from the Scottish Government’s Peatland ACTION fund, delivered in partnership with NatureScot.

The fund is part of the Scottish Government’s efforts to mitigate climate change impacts and aims to prevent carbon-rich peatland from drying out and releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.

Ridge Dell’s restoration works are being delivered by Barker and Bland, an environmental contracting company which also collaborated with Ridge Carbon Capture for the school visit.

Betsy Glasgow-Vasey, Managing Director of Ridge Carbon Capture, said: “Understanding the importance of maintaining the delicate balance of peatland ecosystems is crucial for our future and the future of our planet. The educational day at the Natural Capital Laboratory was a wonderful opportunity to engage young minds and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. It was great to see the students enjoying the beauty of Ridge Dell and learning about the critical role of peatland restoration and protection in combating climate change.”

Shirley Brown, a teacher at Kilchuimen Primary School, said: “The Eco-Committee at Kilchuimen Primary School is delighted to have taken part in the Ridge Dell educational day. The children enjoyed the talk on rewilding and learned valuable lessons on peatland health.”