IT IS not how Maureen Potter and her fellow conservation volunteers intended celebrating the 10th anniversary of their hardworking, nationally-respected group.

Instead of a series of fun, high-profile events, the members of Friends of Langlands Moss - who have transformed a once-neglected peat bog into a much-loved nature reserve and community hub - are facing a mammoth fundraising task after a devastating fire.

Well-organised vandals targeted the Moss on May 31 this year, destroying a third of the purpose-built boardwalk which cost £100,000 to install.

The highly-fire retardant boardwalk was made from recycled plastic and the volunteers are at a loss to explain why anyone would want to cause so much damage and heartache.

Police are treating the incident as wilful fireraising and are keen to hear from anyone with any information.

Maureen, one of the original volunteers who set up the group in 2006, explains: “It was heartbreaking – I couldn’t believe it.

“Someone called me to say they could see flames at the Moss, but I wasn’t prepared for the extent of the damage. We estimate it will cost about £30,000 to repair it.”

Days after the fire, volunteers, with the help of South Lanarkshire Council, Community Payback and Greenspace, rallied to clear away the damaged remains of the 50-metre stretch, as Maureen explains.

“It was dreadful – the boardwalk was very fire-retardant so it didn’t actually burn, it melted,” she shakes her head.

“t was like giant sheets of toffee, which we had to shatter with hammers and break into pieces to remove.”

It might have knocked a weaker group of individuals for six, but the Friends are made of stronger stuff.

Already, with the support of local people and businesses, the group has raised £4000 towards the total, including £500 from The Herald and Times Group’s Staff Benevolent Fund, which supports a variety of causes each month.

They have organised concerts and children’s events, gathered raffle prizes from local businesses, and keep locals updated through their Facebook page.

“We have been extremely moved and humbled by the response from local people,” says Maureen.

“Everyone has been shocked at how mindless this attack was. I think it shows just how much this place means to the people of the town.

“It’s much more than just a nice place to visit – the Moss is incredibly important ecologically and it is a vital educational resource used by local schools, nurseries and community groups.”

Peatlands cover around 9.5% of UK land, supporting wildlife habitats, supplying much of our drinking water and storing at least 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon.

Raised peat bogs, like the 48-acre site at Langlands which is more than 10,000 years old, are essential in the fight against global warming.

“A raised peat bog is like a carbon sink,” explains Maureen. “If it’s wet, it keeps the carbon in rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. Peat bogs help to keep the atmosphere cool.”

The group, with the help of funding from sources including the Big Lottery Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage, have repaired paths, created a wildflower meadow, installed information signs and built 30 dams to keep the peat wet.

The new, improved boardwalk was installed in 2013 and all the money needed to create it was raised by the Friends of Langlands Moss through sponsors and grants.

As well as allowing people of all abilities to enjoy the Local Nature Reserve, it helped to protect the many rare species of wildlife, insectlife and birdlife which live there.

The rebuilding and replanting of the Moss continues at a fast pace, led by the Friends with local schools and businesses.

East Kilbride Sea Cadets ran a successful litter-pick in the surrounding forest, and local companies, including Glencairn Crystal, donated raffle prizes to support the fundraising efforts.

Students from South Lanarkshire College will soon be creating a dipping platform at the newly created frog pond and primary six and seven pupils from nearby Auldhouse Primary recently spent a morning planting pond flowers and spring bulbs at the site supported by donations from Volunteering Matters and Scottish Natural Heritage.

They also planted wild garlic in the forest and more bluebells on top of the 1500 already planted in the bluebell wood.

“We’re planting marsh marigolds, yellow irises and starwort,” explains primary seven pupil Caitlin Mackinnon.

“The Moss is a really important place for animals and birds.”

Harry Webster, who is in primary six, adds: “It’s great to be able to help at the Moss. I’m looking forward to seeing what the flowers look like in the spring.”

Kieran Crosbie and Erica McCarry said they were sad to see the fire-damaged boardwalk.

“It’s a shame because it stops people from getting across the Moss into the forest,” adds Erica. “It’s really sad.”

Maureen says: “It’s great to have Auldhouse Primary here again – they are enthusiastic supporters of Langlands Moss and all that we do here.

“The irony is that this is our tenth anniversary of rescuing the Moss and returning it to the community.

“We’d planned a barbecue and mini-music festival, special wildlife nights, and more. Instead, we were hit with this awful fire.”

She pauses.

“I do try to see the positive in it all, and if there is a silver lining, it is that we now have lots of new members and overwhelming support from our local community, who want to help us rebuild,” she says.

“We are very grateful for that, so we are counting our blessings. There is a long way to go, but we won’t be defeated.”

If you would like to donate to Friends of Langlands Moss, visit their Facebook page for more information, or donate via the GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/27t7mng