Next week, Scotland will roll out the red carpet for its newly designated Flow Country World Heritage Site, celebrating one of the UK’s most remarkable landscapes and its vital role in the fight against climate change.
Spanning Caithness and Sutherland, the Flow Country is home to Europe’s largest blanket peat bog and has been recognised by UNESCO for its extraordinary peatlands, which store 400 million tonnes of carbon—more than all of Britain’s woodlands combined.
This unique landscape is not only a haven for wildlife but also a critical tool for mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity.
To mark this global recognition, two special events are set to captivate audiences in Inverness on 28 January and at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections on 2 February.
These events will feature the world premiere of When Fish Begin to Crawl, an immersive film with a live score performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Directed by BAFTA-winning filmmakers Morag McKinnon and Jim Sutherland, the film delves into the origins of life on Earth, the explosion of biodiversity, and today’s urgent climate challenges, carrying a hopeful message for the future.
The Flow Country’s peatlands are powerful carbon stores, but only when they remain healthy.
Sadly, large areas are degraded, releasing carbon into the atmosphere instead of locking it away.
The Flow Country Partnership—comprising NatureScot, RSPB Scotland, and Highland Council—is tackling this challenge head-on with ambitious projects set to take off in 2025.
The Flow Country Green Finance Initiative, supported by Scotland’s FIRNS funding, will lead efforts to restore peatlands on a large scale.
Combining public and private funding, the project aims to halt nature loss while delivering community benefits, creating jobs, and developing sustainable businesses linked to peatland restoration.
Graham Neville, Chair of The Flow Country Partnership and Head of Operations – North for NatureScot, emphasised the deep connection between the Flow Country’s history and its future:
“When Fish Begin to Crawl explores the evolution of life on Earth and the challenges we face today.
“These events celebrate this landscape’s unique ecosystem and its stewards—farmers, crofters, and communities—while offering hope for a sustainable, nature-led future.”
Professor Roxane Andersen, a leading expert in peatland science at the University of the Highlands and Islands, highlighted the global significance of the Flow Country:
“Its UNESCO designation brings well-deserved attention to peatlands as a critical tool in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.
“It also sets a benchmark for restoring and responsibly managing ecosystems worldwide.”
NatureScot’s Stephen Varwell, representing headline sponsor Peatland ACTION, underlined the benefits of healthy peatlands for communities and ecosystems:
“We’re proud to support restoration projects in the Flow Country, which are now recognised on a global scale.
“Together, we can realise the potential of healthy peatlands to benefit both people and nature.”
RSPB Scotland Area Manager Kenna Chisholm echoed these sentiments, describing the Flow Country as a magical area of global importance.
She praised the collaborative efforts of conservationists, artists, and local communities in bringing its story to the world.
Highland Council Leader Raymond Bremner called the World Heritage Site inscription a historic achievement for Scotland and beyond, celebrating the international recognition of this unique landscape.
As the Flow Country steps onto the world stage, these events signal the beginning of a new chapter for this extraordinary natural wonder and its people.