Peatlands, wet and spongy lands where dead plants pile up instead of fully rotting, are natural tools for climate action. Though they cover just 3–4% of the Earth’s surface, they store up to one-third of the world’s soil carbon — twice as much as all the world’s forests combined. When degraded, they release stored carbon into the atmosphere and pollute the environment.
In the newly designated Arran UNESCO Global Geopark, local farmer Stewart Lambie is restoring peatland to protect biodiversity, stabilise soils, and boost the island’s long-term climate resilience. We spoke to him about the process and the changes he has witnessed.
Tell us about yourself
I am Stewart Lambie, a third-generation Arran farmer. My family has been here since around 1732. I trained in horticulture and worked in landscaping before taking over the farm in 2000. I have always loved being ´Ç³Ü³Ù»å´Ç´Ç°ù²õ—g°ù´Ç·É¾±²Ô²µ up, I would take hours walking home from school, exploring nature along the way.
You have restored over 200 hectares of peatland, which equals to the size of around 280 standard football fields. What have you learned from the experience?
Peat is a carbon-rich soil formed over thousands of years in wet, boggy areas. When healthy, it stores carbon, but if drained or damaged, it breaks down and erodes easily.
Restoring peatland on Arran has transformed the landscape—it now holds more water, traps carbon and reduces erosion and fire risk. I was also surprised to learn it cuts down on mineral leaching from the peat, like aluminium.
Please describe your peatland restoration work in practical terms
Every site is different, but the goal is to re-wet and stabilise dried-out peat. We use turf, a surface layer of soil held together by the roots of grasses, and plants from nearby to cover bare patches, helping stop erosion and letting vegetation recover. Diggers reshape steep edges into gentler slopes. This helps reduce the risk of further erosion and makes the land more stable.
In addition to actively restoring the landscape, one of the biggest changes we made was adjusting our grazing levels. By reducing sheep numbers, we gave the land space to recover. The hill is now much wetter, there are more trees, and sphagnum moss is returning to the streams. Nature has a way of putting things right, even without much interference.
While overall output has gone down, the benefits are clear — there’s less water runoff, less erosion, and more biodiversity. The land is in better shape, and the farm is more resilient as a result.
Have you noticed any changes in the land or wildlife since restoring Arran’s peatland?
Restored peatland acts like a sponge, soaking up water. This boosts wildlife on the hill, prevents erosion along streams, and reduces flash flooding during heavy rain. It also helps fish by improving their spawning areas downstream. The increased biodiversity – birds, insects, frogs, toads – is wonderful to see in the spring and in the summer.
The Hen Harrier population on the hill is thriving. It’s rewarding to see the difference our work has made.
How does the land’s geodiversity—its soil, peat, and uplands—affect the type of farming you practice?
You farm with what you have! There's a layer of limestone (type of rock) running through the land, which was once dug up and used as fertilizer. The rest of the land is mostly acidic.
Rainfall has increased—what used to be a wet day with 2 inches of rain can now bring 4 inches or more. The speed of climate change is alarming, so anything we can do to help is worth it.
There's still a lot of peatland restoration to be done on the island. Other farms and estates are starting similar projects, and local workers can benefit from this effort to restore nature.
A final message or thought...
Nature has a great way of fixing things, even without our intervention. But sometimes we need to give it a helping hand!
The role of UNESCO Global Geoparks
UNESCO Global Geoparks are dynamic landscapes where people live, work, and directly experience the impacts of climate change. These sites support nature-based solutions helping ecosystems recover while reducing emissions. By combining scientific knowledge with local experience, geoparks strengthen resilience and equip communities to adapt to environmental change.
Find out more
This peatland restoration work was funded by NatureScot's fund.
