King battles midges on visit to Highland peat bog declared world heritage site

Charles toured Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre in Sutherland and met staff and members of the local community.

The King battled midges as he visited a giant peat bog recently given Unesco world heritage site status.

Charles arrived at the vast expanse of peatland at Forsinard Flows, Forsinard, Sutherland, on Wednesday, with many well-wishers waiting to greet him wearing veils to deter the pests.

The Flow Country is widely considered to be the largest area of blanket bog in the world and covers about 1,500 square miles in the Highlands, and it is estimated to store about 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide – more than is stored by all UK woodlands combined.

King Charles handed some venison by a chef — Charles was presented with a saddle of venison to take home (Jane Barlow/PA)

He was given a tour of the Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre and met staff from the Flow Country Partnership, which was formed in 2006 to restore the peatland after damage from forestry and drainage.

Charles took on the patronage of the RSPB following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and was thanked for his efforts by a volunteer, who said: “Thank-you so much, we are very grateful.”

Charles, with hands raised, speaks while standing outside with two Flow Country staff — Charles visited the Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre during his tour of the area (Jane Barlow/PA)

He said he needed to use ink which does not fade and added: “Or I get sent back to sign it again.”

Charles was spotted removing a handkerchief from his sporran as he toured a community festival in a field and met families who live nearby.

He admired a firepit where venison burgers were being cooked and served with homemade condiments including blackcurrant ketchup, and he joked: “I hope the venison burgers are up to standard.”

Peatland, with hill in the distance, under blue skies — The Flow Country was last week granted world heritage site status (Alamy/PA)

A children’s orchestra, Feis air an Oir – Gaelic for Festival on the Edge – performed for the King, with many children playing the fiddle.

Some songs were performed in Gaelic including Sine Bhan, while Mairi’s Wedding was sung in English.

The King posed for a group photograph with the young musicians.

Charles with pen in hand as he prepares to sign a book, with a duck in the foreground — Charles signed the visitor book at Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre (Jane Barlow/PA)

Two siblings who sang for him said they were delighted to have met the King for the first time.

Esther Spratt, 10, and brother Eli, seven, from Strathy, both performed in Feis air an Oir.

Esther said: “It was exciting – he said something about the midges.”

Eli added: “Probably the most exciting part was the first time seeing King Charles.”