Flanders Moss

Flanders Moss is a national nature reserve to the west of Stirling. It is the largest lowland raised bog in Britain and an area of significance because of the way its habitat is being actively managed. The whole flat area (the Carse of Stirling) used to be covered in peat bogs like Flanders Moss and squelching round it you can see why it was so difficult for foot soldiers and horses to cross this, and many other, parts of Scotland. Most of the bogs were drained in the past to provide agricultural land - to the detriment of the ecosystem.

The Moss is managed by Scottish Natural Heritage to restore a healthy peatland system.  It's a fascinating project and while not exactly beautiful it's a really interesting place to visit. We hadn't been there for at least five years. Like so many of us we're (re)discovering local places to enjoy without the need to travel far.

Curlews breed on the Moss and I assume that's why there's a giant woven one on display.

The visit to the Moss was this morning. This afternoon is gardening and this evening Tuesday yoga is back. This is great for me and much more convenient than Wednesday now that childminding is back in routine. The yoga studio is open again but luckily for me the zoom class is going to continue.

The Covid numbers are steadily increasing in Scotland. Even locally there's a small (contained) outbreak and nationally there are more people in hospital than in the past weeks. It was bound to happen we know but that doesn't make it any less worrying.