GreenPower and Thrive Renewables, owner and operators of Drumduff Wind Farm, near Blackridge in West Lothian, are pleased to confirm further support to extend environmentally friendly access boardwalks at Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve.
These additional paths will provide further opportunities for local people around Blackridge to enjoy and explore more of the National Nature Reserve on their doorstep. Visitors from further afield will also be able to explore more of the Reserve and experience the special wildlife and plants associated with it.
A feasibility study carried out with NatureScot in 2019, had identified that local communities around Blackridge wanted to see more paths and cycle routes constructed so there was easier access to the wider countryside and the National Nature Reserve. In the Autumn of 2021, with financial support from Drumduff Wind Farm, NatureScot oversaw the construction of 170 metres of boardwalk with an official opening held in March 2022.
This second phase of path construction (approximately 250 metres) will be completed in March 2023. Amee Hood, Reserve Manager for the NNR said “We are excited to be able to create more boardwalks offering greater opportunities to all our visitors to explore the Reserve. Learning about peatlands and renewable energy will help our visitors understand what we can all do to help tackle the climate emergency and biodiversity loss.”
Rob Forrest, GreenPower CEO said: “We are delighted to provide this further support to extend these low impact environmentally friendly access boardwalks so that people of all ages and abilities are able to enjoy and explore nature. In the future GreenPower and Thrive Renewables are keen to explore the opportunity for more paths including a cycle route that would link Blackridge to Drumduff Wind Farm. These paths and cycle routes can provide long term benefits for local people and visitors to the area.”
Adrian Warman, Head of Operations at Thrive Renewables, added: “Protecting the environment and biodiversity close to our sites is really important to us and is just one of the ways in which we aim to support the communities that host our projects. That’s why we’re pleased to be continuing our support of the Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve, which we know is a vital resource for locals, as well as those who visit from further afield. We hope this funding to further extend the boardwalk encourages more and more people to come and explore this wonderful landscape and learn more about how the site is helping to tackle the climate emergency.”
Additional information
Blawhorn Moss NNR, an oasis of open windswept moors, is tucked away in the hills behind Blackridge in West Lothian. The Moss is a rare survivor of the raised and blanket bogs that once covered much of central Scotland, with over 8,000 years of history locked into the peat layers of this raised bog. Carnivorous sundews, dragonflies and damselflies, heath spotted orchids and curlews, are just some of the plants, animals and birds that call this home.
Drumduff Wind Farm is a 3 turbine, 8.5MW wind project based just north of Blackridge. The project is owned by GreenBreeze Energy Limited, a joint venture between GreenPower and Thrive Renewables.
GreenPower, is an independent Scottish based company formed in 2000. https://greenpowerinternational.com/
Thrive Renewables is a renewable energy investment company, with a mission to power the transition to a sustainable energy future by helping people meaningfully connect with clean energy projects.