21-659: Forsinard Flows is a national nature reserve (NNR) covering much of the area surrounding Forsinard in the Highland council area of Scotland. It lies at the heart of the Flow Country , a large, rolling expanse of peatland and wetland area of Caithness and Sutherland that makes up almost 5% of the world's blanket bog . The reserve is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and
42-551: A boardwalk to link the visitor centre to the lookout tower. The 6 km-long Forsinain Trail starts about 7 km north of the visitor centre. The RSPB also run a field studies centre, including education facilities, laboratory and bunkhouse accommodation for groups visiting for educational purposes or to undertake voluntary conservation work. National nature reserve (Scotland) The national nature reserves ( NNRs ) of Scotland are areas of land or water designated under
63-422: Is also noted for carnivorous plants such as sundew and butterwort , as well as aquatic invertebrates such as dragonflies. The RSPB visitor centre is located in the old station building at Forsinard railway station . A lookout tower provides views over the flat landscape, and two trails have been constructed to take visitors out into the bogland. The Dubh Lochan Trail is approximately 1.6 km-long, and uses
84-691: Is designated a Category II protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . Much of the NNR overlaps with the designated area of the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation . The Flow Country is Europe's largest expanse of blanket bog , a unique type of habitat for many species. Blanket bogs form in cool, wet areas with acidic soils, as sphagnum mosses does not fully decompose under such conditions. Over thousands of years
105-631: Is mainly due to Scotland's natural habitats being more intact than in the rest of the UK. Most NNRs in Scotland are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest . Many also form part of the Natura 2000 network, which covers Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation . Additionally, some of the NNRs are designated as Ramsar sites . National nature reserves were first created under
126-468: Is managed by ScotRail , who operate the services at the station. The Sutherland and Caithness Railway was authorised in 1871, and the single-track line, which connected Helmsdale with Wick and Thurso , opened on 28 July 1874. One of the original stations was that at Forsinard. From 1 January 1923 the station was owned by the London Midland and Scottish Railway . In September 1925, it
147-548: Is now used by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as the visitors' centre for the Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve (which protects part of the Flow Country ). Both platforms have waiting areas and benches, whilst platform 2 (towards Wick) also has bike racks and a help point. There is also a small car park adjacent to platform 2. As there are no facilities to purchase tickets, passengers must buy one in advance, or from
168-558: The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 . In 1996 the public body responsible for Scotland's natural heritage , Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH – since renamed NatureScot ), undertook a review of NNR policy that took account of the availability of other designations conferring legal protection, such as site of special scientific interest , special protection area and special area of conservation . It
189-572: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as containing habitats and species of national importance. National nature reserves can be owned by public, private, community or voluntary organisations but must be managed to conserve their important habitats and species, as well as providing opportunities for the public to enjoy and engage with nature. There are currently 43 NNRs in Scotland , which cover 154,250 hectares (1,542.5 km ), or less than 1.5% of
210-479: The Flow Country are of particular importance for red-throated and black-throated divers and common scoter . These species usually inhabit peatland surrounding pools and lochs in the centre of the reserve, and so are less commonly sighted. Birds that can more easily be seen by visitors to Forsinard Flows include golden plovers , dunlins , greenshank , hen harriers , skylarks and meadow pipits . The area
231-598: The NNR designation in Scotland has been through a partnership group, comprising representatives of existing reserve management organisations and community land groups, chaired by NatureScot. NatureScot remains responsible for the statutory declaration of national nature reserves. NatureScot is responsible for designating NNRs in Scotland and for overseeing the maintenance and management of each reserve. The majority of NNRs are directly managed by NatureScot; however, some are managed by, or in co-operation with other bodies. The NNR partnership consists of nine bodies: Details on
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#1732772928297252-412: The forestry and block up drainage ditches to allow the original water levels to return. The work began in 1998, and by 2015 the first site to be worked on was showing significant recovery. Although the ridge and furrow land pattern of the plantation remained, the site was found to be returning to a healthy blanket bog. The forestry on this site was planted more recently than some other sites, and so recovery
273-488: The land area of Scotland. They range in size from Corrieshalloch Gorge at 7 ha to Mar Lodge Estate , which covers 29,324 ha. National nature reserve status is an accolade awarded to the best nature reserves in Scotland, and the selected sites provide examples of nationally or internationally important species and habitats. NNRs are intended to showcase Scotland's nature, and as well as being well managed for wildlife they must be managed to provide opportunities for
294-509: The management of each reserve are shown in the table below. Forsinard railway station Forsinard railway station ( / ˌ f ɔːr s ɪ n ˈ ɑːr d / ) is a railway station serving the village of Forsinard in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland . It is located on the Far North Line , 125 miles 69 chains (202.6 kilometres) from Inverness , between Kinbrace and Altnabreac . The station
315-507: The mid-1980s it has no longer been permitted to establish new woodland on peat that is over 50 cm deep. From the mid-1990s the RSBP began to purchase large areas at the centre of the Flow Country, and began one of the largest peatland restoration projects ever undertaken in the UK. The area owned by the RSPB site now forms the NNR, which was designated in 2007. The RSPB undertook work to remove
336-439: The partially decomposed remains of mosses and other bog plants build up, forming a layer of peat that can be up to 10 m deep. As well as providing a home for many species of plants and birds, blanket bogs play an important role in regulating carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, acting as a carbon sink , and helping to prevent climate change . Peatlands hold nearly 30% of all terrestrial carbon despite covering just 3% of
357-567: The public to visit and enjoy them. NNRs therefore generally have facilities such as visitor centres and trails to allow visitors to explore and understand the habitats or wildlife they contain. 19 of the reserves NNRs have IUCN Category II (national park) status, including, Glen Affric , Rùm , Abernethy Forest and the Great Trossachs Forest . There are no reserves with this status in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. This
378-523: The world's land. In the years following the Second World War the UK government encouraged the growth of forestry plantations on peatland via grants and tax concessions. During the 1970s and 1980s large areas of the Flow Country were drained and planted with non-native conifers despite having been treeless for thousands of years. These actions dried out the peat, changing the habitat and destroying its value for birds and other wildlife, and since
399-601: Was determined that NNR should possess four attributes: Additionally, it was determined that NNRs should be managed for at least one of three purposes: Between 2000 and 2003 the existing NNRs were reviewed against these criteria. Prior to 2004 there were 73 national nature reserves in Scotland, however a number have since been de-designated. New NNRs have also been designated, such as the National Trust for Scotland 's Glen Coe and Mar Lodge properties, which were both designated NNRs in 2017. Since 2012 governance of
420-441: Was expected to be faster, as some of the original bog vegetation remained. On more mature plantation sites, action has been undertaken to restore the original flat topography by crushing timber into the furrows and removing the ridges by crushing of trees stumps. More recently less intensive restoration methods have also been trialled, in which trees are completely removed from site instead of being left to decompose. The peatlands of
441-467: Was recorded as being 243 miles 34 chains (391.8 km) from Perth , measured via Carrbridge and Inverness station . The station is 125 miles 69 chains (202.6 km) from Inverness, and has a passing loop 21 chains (420 m) long, flanked by two platforms. Platform 1 on the up (southbound) line can accommodate trains having four coaches, but platform 2 on the down (northbound) line can only hold three. The station building
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