Network Rail, working with Forth Rivers Trust and NatureScot, has finished restoring 273 hectares of peatland at Knoxfauld Farm, just north of Dunblane.

The scheme is designed to bolster natural flood management, enhance wildlife habitats and improve climate resilience across the area and the railway.

Specialist teams, collaborating with local farmer Vince Janse, blocked drainage ditches and reshaped parts of the landscape to hold more water on site and revive natural peatland processes.

Over the next century, the restored bog is expected to store around 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, create valuable habitats and slow water flow during periods of intense rainfall.

The initiative supports Network Rail's wider work to address climate change and reduce the risk of flooding on the network.

It also contributes to a regional Office of Rail and Road (ORR) target to create and improve habitats, in line with Network Rail's responsibility to protect and enhance the natural environment.

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With extreme weather set to become more frequent, nature-based measures such as peatland restoration will help the railway adapt while giving wildlife more space to thrive and supporting nearby communities.

James Morrison, head of Sustainability and Social Value at Network Rail, said: "This project shows the value of working in partnership to restore our natural environment. Healthy peatlands play an important role in storing carbon, supporting biodiversity and managing water naturally across the landscape.

"We're committed to finding practical ways to tackle climate change and build a more resilient railway. Working with Forth Rivers Trust on the restoration of Knoxfauld Farm peatland is a great example of how nature-based solutions can deliver lasting benefits for both the environment and the communities we serve."

Charlotte Neary, project manager Forth Rivers Trust, said: "Healthy peatlands are one of our most valuable natural habitats, storing carbon, increasing climate resilience, and providing a home for rare wildlife. The results of this project were visible within weeks, with dragonflies, amphibians and native bog plants already thriving in newly restored habitats. The project is a powerful example of how partnership working between a family run farm, environmental organisations, and an infrastructure provider, can deliver lasting benefits for nature, climate and local communities."

Ewan Lawrie, freshwater advisor with NatureScot said: "Ecosystem restoration using nature-based solutions is key to tackling the twin climate and biodiversity crises. One of 17 projects across Europe, the major project at Knoxfauld is part of work delivering the upscaling of restoration by working in partnership, seizing funding opportunities to deliver benefits at a catchment scale."

The project was funded by partners, including support from the Horizon 2020 'MERLIN' project through NatureScot.