The First Lecture of the 2025 / 2026 Season is on

Monday 6th October 2025

'Peatlands Restoration in Scotland'

by

Amanda Ophof

 NatureScot

Originally from the Netherlands, Amanda has lived and worked in various parts of Scotland for more than 13 years, and is now based in Inverness.  Having gained a BSc in Wildlife Conservation, and an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation, Amanda has had a varied career working in agriculture, forestry and land management - predominantly conservation and restoration of all degraded habitats.  Her most recent focus has been on her main interest of peatland restoration.

Five years ago Amanda joined the Peatland Action partnership, a Scotland-wide restoration programme to re-wet degraded peatlands.  The Partnership is a collaboration between NatureScot; Forestry & Land Scotland; the Cairngorms and the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Parks, and Scottish Water.  There are over 100 people across the partnership working on this project.  Amanda is part of the NatureScot Delivery Team of 25 people working throughout Scotland, with her team of nine fellow project officers covering the Higlands &Islands and specialising in the restoration of afforested peatlands.

Since its inception in 2012, Peatland Action has put more than 43,000 hectares of peatland on the road to recovery.  Their current target is to restore 250,000 hectares across Scotland by 2030.

Nairn Community Centre 

King Street, Nairn

7.30 p.m.

A Warm Welcome Awaits!

Members Free, Guests £5.00 on the door