Media Invite: New boardwalk extension to open at popular West Lothian nature reserve

Where: Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve (NNR) near Blackridge, West Lothian. Detailed directions are available on the NatureScot website.

When: 31 March at 10:30am

Photo opportunities: NatureScot board member, Dr Heather Reid, and local school pupils will cut the ribbon to officially open the boardwalk. Other informal pictures will also be staged.

For interview: NatureScot board member Dr Heather Reid, Blawhorn NNR manager Amee Hood, long-standing voluntary warden Billy Craig, Rob Forest CEO GreenPower and local councillors will be available for interviews. Dr Heather Reid is a science education consultant and former weather forecaster with the Met Office and BBC Scotland. She brings over 25 years’ experience in public science engagement and outreach, especially in environmental sciences and climate change, to the NatureScot board.

Background: Drumdruff Wind Farm (GreenPower & Thrive Renewables) provided 70% of the funding to extend the boardwalk at Blawhorn Moss, creating more paths and links for the local community and visitors to enjoy. Volunteers contributed a lot of the work as well, including Scotland’s Rural College (Oatridge) students laying over a thousand anti-slip strips while Billy Craig, our long standing voluntary warden, was our eyes and ears on the ground.

The boardwalk also provides more benches and information panels which will allow more opportunities for educational visits.

Blawhorn Moss is the only National Nature Reserve in the Lothians, a secret place tucked away in the hills behind Blackridge. Hidden among windswept moors, this wilderness is a rare survivor of the raised and blanket peat bogs which once covered much of Central Scotland.

IMPORTANT:
Please confirm by email that you wish to attend to media@nature.scot.

** The content of this media invite is strictly embargoed until (12:30pm) on 31 March 2022.

A news release will be issued after the event.