Scottish town raises £6 million to create a vast 10,500-acre nature reserve

When people in the small Scottish town of Langholm set out to raise £6 million, they were not simply trying to buy a piece of countryside. Their campaign secured 10,500 acres and helped create the community-owned Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, turning an ambitious local vision into one of the region's largest community-led conservation efforts. Now, that decision is shaping how the landscape is managed. According to Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, more than 190 hectares of degraded peatland at Middlemoss Head are being restored, with work focused on repairing damage that has left parts of the bog dry and vulnerable to erosion.More than 54 kilometres of artificial drains are being blocked, while exposed peat is being repaired to help water return to the landscape. As the ground becomes wetter again, the project aims to create conditions where wading birds, insects and rare plants can return and thrive. For Langholm, the restoration is a chance to turn its remarkable land purchase into lasting environmental change.Peatland restoration targets 54 kilometres of drains across Middlemoss HeadThe Langholm Initiative developed the restoration programme with the Crichton Carbon Centre, a Dumfr...