Ewan Kennedy is leading the restoration of Scotland’s ancient peatlands – while also training the next generation to protect them.

In the remote Highlands of Scotland, where the mountains rise from mossy bogs and silence has a depth of its own, Ewan Kennedy is hard at work. His goal? Not to tame the land, but to restore it – to revive Scotland’s ancient peatlands while helping young people build futures where their roots already lie.

It’s a mission that blends environmental urgency with personal conviction. And for Ewan, Managing Director of Stag Infrastructure, it’s about more than just good business. “I’m from here,” he says. “And I want to build something lasting – something that lives on in both the landscape and the people who belong to it.”

A mission in the moss

The word peatlands often conjures images of soggy wilderness – wet, bleak, and inhospitable. In reality, these landscapes are alive with colour and texture: deep copper and green mosses, mirror-like pools, and wildflowers clinging to ancient soil. Formed over 10,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age, they are among Europe’s oldest living landscapes. They are also one of the planet’s most powerful natural allies, storing more carbon per hectare than forests, regulating water, and providing a home for countless species. These vast plains have outlasted civilisations – and now, they need protecting more than ever.

In Scotland, more than 60% have been damaged – drained, dried, and degraded over decades. The result is both environmental and existential: a vital ecosystem turned from sink to source, quietly releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Ewan and his team are leading the efforts to reverse that damage, restoring the land by hand and machine to bring it back to health.

“This is about long-term thinking,” he explains. “If we do this right, we’re not just protecting nature – we’re protecting our future. The work that we’re doing here today will make a difference for my children, their children, and generations ahead”.

That future comes in many forms. Reviving the peatland will help meet Scotland’s climate targets; while also creating stable, skilled jobs in an area that has long seen its young people leave for better opportunities elsewhere. “The land matters – but so do the lives rooted in it,” Ewan says. “This is about community as much as conservation.”

Machines that protect rather than disrupt

Restoring peatlands is a delicate job. One wrong move can cause further damage, so the machinery used must be efficient, reliable, and light on the land. For Ewan, Yanmar’s compact equipment was the obvious choice. Working with Chris Knight, Yanmar’s main dealer for Scotland, he selected the ViO80 mini excavator and C30R-3 tracked carrier, both adapted for low ground pressure and minimal disturbance. “It’s not like working on a building site,” Ewan says. “You’re on saturated ground, kilometres from the road, trying not to leave a trace. These machines give us the performance we need without the footprint.”

Key modifications included an extended reach arm, added counterweight, and refuelling systems designed to prevent diesel spills. “There’s no room for error out here,” he continues. “You are hours from support, so the kit has to work – safely and sustainably.”

Bringing opportunity back home

But for Ewan, the restoration work is as much about people as peat. Born and raised in the Highlands, he’s witnessed the slow erosion of local opportunity. “There’s a generation gap now,” he says. “Too many young people leave because they don’t see a future here.”

Stag Infrastructure is helping change that narrative – creating full-time jobs and running pilot training in peatland restoration to offer young people a future close to home. “We want to show that you can stay here, learn valuable skills, and build something that matters,” says Ewan. “It’s about helping people see a future for themselves in this place.”

This philosophy echoes Yanmar’s Hanasaka value – an ethos of nurturing potential and helping people and places thrive. And through the Yanmar Green Challenge 2050, which sets out to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions and a fully circular resource society, the company is not only supporting this mission – it’s learning from it. It brings to life Yanmar Compact Equipment’s promise: Building with You, supporting the people shaping a better tomorrow, from the Highlands to the world stage.

A legacy beneath our feet

Restoring peatlands is not glamorous. It involves mud, patience, long days in unpredictable weather – and a willingness to think decades ahead. But for Ewan Kennedy, it’s a calling. “It’s not about being the biggest or fastest,” he says. “It’s about doing the right thing. I want to leave behind something I can be proud of – and I want the people around me to feel proud too.”

In places where the ground has quietly recorded thousands of years of history, Ewan Kennedy is writing a new chapter – one of revival, resilience, and respect. He shows that even the quietest work can echo for generations – especially when backed by the right tools, the right mindset, and a belief in building something better.

See the landscape, the people, and the machines behind the restoration – watch the full video of the peatlands project in action.