In 1998 the reserve was bought by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and a project to restore the hydrology of the site was implemented; raising the water table by blocking drains and clearing trees. However on 18th May 2018 it was de-declared and is no longer a National Nature Reserve. This poses very serious questions and debate as to what a Nature reserve is for, and what conservation protections exist that are based on merit alone, and not influenced by how much people can benefit from them. This is a very important point to raise awareness about and to stimulate discussion about what is worth protecting and in what way, and who it now falls upon to protect it. This reserve is considered grade 1 and has received substantial funding through EU EC LIFE funds and projects (LIFE00 NAT/UK/007078). The project was undertaken by the ‘Scottish Raised Bog Partnership’, a partnership between Forest Enterprise (Forestry Commission Scotland), Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, at a cost of €2,139,262.00 with a EU contribution of €1,458,977.00.