Ridge Carbon Capture hosts education day for primary school pupils
Pupils from Kilchuimen Primary School, Fort Augustus, took part in an educational day hosted by Ridge Carbon Capture’s Ridge Dell, a peatland restoration project near Inverness.
The event took place on Tuesday, June 18, at 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 and received £278,741 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.
Delivered by a network of organisations, the fund forms part of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan, which committed £250million to restore at least 20,000 hectares of peatlands annually towards a total of 250,000 hectares by 2030.
This investment enables essential restoration activities such as blocking ditches to slow water flow and re-profiling and re-vegetating peat hags to prevent erosion.
The £278,741 grant is also being blended with Ridge Carbon Capture’s own capital to deliver the project.
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.”
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