The King visits the world’s first peatland World Heritage Site, Flow Country, in Scotland

The King has visited the Flow Country - a vast peat bog that covers much of Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland.

The Flow Country is considered one of Scotland’s national treasures and has recently been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its globally important nature. The King unveiled a plaque commemorating the area becoming the seventh world heritage site in Scotland and the 35th in Britain.

The natural landscape stores approximately 400 million tonnes of carbon – more than all the UK’s forests and woodlands combined. It is called blanket bog because it covers the landscape like a blanket and is a type of habitat that is globally rare, but one that is ideally suited to Scotland’s climate and maritime location.

Peat bogs are a crucial defence against climate change, locking away carbon so it is not released as carbon dioxide.

Upon arrival at the visitor centre, His Majesty spoke to staff from the Highland Council, NatureScot, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) - of which he is Patron - and other local organisations which are involved in the care of the landscape, hearing about the importance of the Flow Country for people, the planet and nature.

The King learnt how the peatlands function as a centre of excellence for research, home to a vast range of plants and wildlife. His Majesty also heard how the area provides economic opportunities and a space for young people to experience the natural environment.

Attending a community event outside, The King spoke to local businesses and families. 

A children’s orchestra, Feis air an Oir – Gaelic for Festival on the Edge – performed for the King, with many children playing the fiddle. Some songs were performed in Gaelic including Sine Bhan, while Mairi’s Wedding was sung in English.