John Muir Award – Gorse Burning

As part of the John Muir Award, S2 pupils helped the Aberdeen Countryside Ranger prepare for burning the gorse at Scotstown Moor. This involved removing litter, chopping logs, tackling regrowth and preparing the ground for the next burning.

This Local Nature Reserve has a number of different habitats, including a designated SSSI wetland which is the most north-easterly location where the black bog-rush can be found. Gorse burning benefits the habitats by allowing other plants, such as heather, to grow.

Pupils also removed invasive pine trees to allow Scots Pines to flourish.