202402-Cairn-Issue-4-06-ONLINE - Flipbook - Page 15
Cairngorms voices
In conversation
with Sean
Williamson
Restoring peatland will
be essential in helping the
Cairngorms become the
UK’s 昀椀rst net zero national
park. We talked to local
contractor Sean Williamson,
of Williamson Groundworks
in Grantown, to 昀椀nd out
how he became involved in
peatland restoration projects.
Why is it important for local
contractors to get involved
in peatland restoration?
I am pleased the opportunities are
there for local contractors to train and
tool up for this type of work rather
than bringing in contractors from
other parts of the country. Peatland
restoration is all about helping to slow
and reverse the effects of the climate
crisis and so it makes sense to train
local people rather than have workers
and machinery travelling up to the
Cairngorms, which would obviously
have a considerable carbon footprint.
What are some of the peatland
projects you’ve worked on so far?
Our 昀椀rst peatland restoration
project involved delivering some
novel technique trials in Glenfeshie
in 2022. Following that we worked
with the Park Authority under the
New Entrant Scheme (which gives
existing contractors the skills needed
to deliver peatland work) on a project
at Glenmuick in autumn last year. That
was followed by a complex project
on Allargue Estate. We will also be
delivering a Park Authority-funded
peatland project with RSPB Scotland
at Abernethy over the coming months.
What impacts do you hope
peatland restoration projects will
have in the National Park?
Restoring damaged peatland
obviously has signi昀椀cant bene昀椀ts to
the environment, but I think what is
important on top of that is the jobs
that will be created locally. There
are going to be more opportunities
for this type of work in the coming
years and that will provide new
work opportunities for people in
our communities. These projects
could also play a part in helping the
growth of local businesses – it’s great
that contractors in the Cairngorms
are being given the opportunity to
diversify the services they offer and
upskill their team. All this will have
a positive impact on our economy
in the Cairngorms National Park.
We plan to restore 3,500 hectares
of peatland as part of Cairngorms
2030, trapping
thousands of
tonnes of carbon.
Scan the QR code
to 昀椀nd out more.
spring 2024 cairn 15