West Lothian Council and Green Action Trust (GAT) have been exploring the wonders of peatland bogs with the community of Armadale, as part of West Lothian’s biodiversity month.
The event, at Black Moss Nature Park, was designed to highlight the value of peatland, raise awareness about the species that live there, and highlight the forestry works that had been done on the site in order to preserve the recently restored habitat.
Attendees enjoyed pond dipping to find out what invertebrates are living in the ponds. The team discovered a variety of aquatic species – indicating good water quality. Staff from GAT and West Lothian Council were on hand to explain the ecology of the site and give out wildflower seeds to disperse or plant at home.
About Black Moss Nature Park
Black Moss is a lowland raised bog, near Armadale, West Lothian. These peatland habitats are valuable places with unique wildlife. When functioning, they store carbon and help slow down water flow. In 2015, the Council took action to restore the bog through dam blocking and tree removal. More recently, non-native conifers at the edge of the bog were becoming mature, creating a safety risk. These overgrown trees were also creating a seed source onto the delicate habitat and were removing water from the edge of the bog.
In 2024, following community consultation, GAT worked with West Lothian Council to remove some 2.6 hectares of conifers and replant the area with native broadleaf species. This has helped protect the peatland and improve biodiversity. The Council’s Ecology and Biodiversity Officer, their Ranger Service, and their Tree and Woodland Officer helped plan the project and worked with the community on the re-planting.
More recently, GAT worked with a local contractor to clear vegetation from the edges of the curling pond, which has increased the area of open water available for wildlife.
The removal of the conifers has also improved access to the site. The biodiversity month event helped showcase the improvements to the park while encouraging visitors to use their greenspaces responsibly.
Importance of peatland
This habitat is rare within the Central Belt, and is important for species such as ground nesting birds, butterflies and moths.
Healthy peatlands also play an important role in storing carbon. In this short video, filmed for the Central Scotland Green Network, Callum McLaren (the Council’s Ecology and Biodiversity Officer) explains the importance of the forestry works in mitigating climate change.