Over 550 hectares of degraded peatland around Backwater Reservoir in Angus have been restored following the completion of a third major phase of work. The latest tranche covers 214 hectares, adding to 339 hectares delivered during the first two phases and bringing the total restored area to 553 hectares.

The scheme is among the largest peatland restoration projects undertaken by Scottish Water. It has been delivered with contractors Mackenzie Construction and specialist partners McGowan Environmental as part of a catchment-scale strategy to protect source water quality in the reservoir.

Restoration measures include peat hag re-profiling and installing peat dams to slow the movement of rainfall across the landscape, reduce erosion and limit the amount of organic material being washed from the hillsides into the reservoir.

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Cutting the flow of organic material into the reservoir helps keep treatment processes as straightforward as possible, while healthy peatland supports biodiversity, locks up carbon and creates a landscape better able to withstand the effects of climate change.

Graham Skea, Catchment Liaison Officer in Scottish Water's Sustainable Land Management and Abstraction Team, said: "Protecting our water sources starts with looking after the land around them and this work at Backwater Reservoir is another significant step in putting that approach into practice.

"Holding water in healthy peatland helps reduce erosion and the amount of organic material reaching the reservoir. Those same improvements also support important habitat and help the landscape cope with climate change, so protecting our water sources goes hand in hand with restoring the wider environment."

LiDAR drone surveys have been used throughout to record the work and demonstrate the changes taking place across the site.

Robbie MacLean, Contracts Manager at Mackenzie Construction, said: "Completing a restoration project of this scale is a fantastic achievement and reflects a real team effort from everyone involved.

"Working across hundreds of hectares of peatland brings its own challenges, but it's very rewarding to see the difference the work makes to the landscape. We're proud to have worked alongside Scottish Water to deliver this latest phase and contribute to the long-term restoration of the catchment."

Scottish Water is also proposing to create over 600 hectares of native woodland in the Glenhead area around the reservoir to further strengthen its resilience to climate change.