Old photographs and footage of Cutting Peat in the Outer Hebrides. For crofting families the annual peat cutting was a time consuming task that could involve the whole family and often the neighbours as well. The work could be shared out between members of the family, according to ability, with neighbourly co-operation for the heavier work making the task easier. For centuries, peat has been the main source of fuel for the Highlands and Islands. It is a free source of fuel, in an area where the cost of coal and its transport would have been out of reach for all but a few households.
In Scotland there are 1.7 million hectares of peatland, nearly the size of Wales. Peat is formed when plants become water logged and their decay is slowed by the lack of oxygen. Bogs are acidic, nutrient poor environments, dominated by Sphagnum mosses, specialist plants that can store huge amounts of water. As well as a unique habitat for specialised animals and plants, bogs also provide what are called ecosystem services. A healthy bog can store huge amounts of rainwater which can be of great help if surrounding areas are prone to flooding. They are also very valuable in the fight against climate change as they lock up vast amounts of carbon. In fact, they can store far more carbon than trees, which only have a limited life span, as undamaged lowland bogs can keep growing, accumulating more and more peat for thousands of years. Wherever you visit or tour in the Highlands or Islands you are likely to see Peat
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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