Inverclyde Council wins another award for its sustainability projects
nverclyde Council has picked up another award for its peatland restoration and tree planting projects.
The council was a joint winner of The Sustainability Award at the Scottish Public Service Awards, which were held at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
The win was for Improving Inverclyde’s environment through peatland restoration and tree planting. It comes just a few months after the projects won the COSLA Excellence Award in Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy category.
The three-year Duchal Moor project will restore an area of 788 hectares of drained peatland in Inverclyde in a bid to cut carbon emissions.
Inverclyde Council was awarded £768,705 from NatureScot’s Peatland ACTION partnership to carry out the work, which began on site in January 2024.
The project is being supported by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network's Clyde Peatlands initiative, which aims to increase the rate and scale of peatland restoration across the whole City Region.
A total of 10,600 trees have been planted at Coves Local Nature Reserve (LNR), which borders Greenock and Gourock.
Work began in late February 2024 to plant the trees, which are all native Scottish species, as part of a £200,000 investment.
Inverclyde Council received the money from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund and commissioned Green Action Trust to carry out the work.
Both projects are designed to improve the local environment and support delivery of the council’s Net Zero Action Plan 2022/27.
Councillor Michael McCormick, convener of the Environment and Regeneration Committee, congratulated everyone involved in the projects.
He said: “The fact these projects have picked up not one, but two national awards are testament to the vision and innovation of everyone involved.
“The first year of the Duchal Moor project is complete and we are already seeing positive benefits. There is less flooding in the area and a local farmer has reported a reduction in harm to his livestock.
“At Coves local nature reserve there are fewer reports of anti-social behaviour, more wildlife and the paths are being used regularly by community groups.
“Congratulations once again to everyone at Inverclyde Council involved in these projects and our partners.”
Inverclyde Council was named as joint winner of the award along with Renfrewshire Council - City Deal and Infrastructure Team for its AMIDS District Heating Network programme.