Artifact or natural? The history of Flanders Moss in Scotland

This episode of the podcast returns to Scotland for a look at the
environmental history of Flanders Moss, a raised peat bog west of
Stirling. John Harrison, a historian from Stirling, reveals why
the moss is the product of millennia of human use and
exploitation. In addition he will address the questions what the
moss looked before human intervention, why large parts of the
moss were cleared during the 18th and 19th centuries, and some of
the environmental consequences of the clearance. The podcast will
also dispel the myth that the moss was once an impassible
barrier, with Stirling Bridge the only place where it could be
crossed. Finally, the history of Flanders Moss during more recent
times, including a proposal to mine the peat to fuel a power
station, and its role in the 21st century as the largest raised
bog in lowland Scotland will be briefly discussed.


Website mentioned in this podcast: SNH NNR page