Frances is Chair of the Flow Country Partnership and has been involved in the project from the initial idea that the Flow Country should become a World Heritage Site, through projects such as Flows to the Future, to the submission of the Flow Country WHS bid to UNESCO. She is also Deputy Lieutenant (Sutherland) - Frances was appointed Deputy Lieutenant in 2017.
Frances has worked for many years to support the voluntary sector in Sutherland, serving on several boards as a volunteer in the area. Frances is also a tireless campaigner for her local community in Sutherland. Frances Gunn is also Chair of Northwest 2045, she said: “The NorthWest2045 project has been established by a diverse group of local organisations - community groups; local development trusts; statutory bodies; and community, private and eNGO landowners - from across the North West Highlands, from Coigach in the south, north to Durness and east to Bettyhill. We are creating the critical mass we need to improve our prospects, strengthen our voice and make best use of our resources by working together across the area to create a future where our communities thrive economically, socially, and environmentally.”
As well as being a stronghold for a globally rare type of peatland, The Flow Country also provides vital local ecosystem services. The Flow Country stores a remarkable amount of carbon and will continue to do so if kept in a healthy state. The peatlands also act as a natural filtration system for the rivers and streams that flow from and through them, providing cleaner water for aquatic wildlife and people. The Flow Country is also a place of work and recreation for locals and visitors to the far north. The impact of the Flow Country WHS bid has been monumental, highlighting the importance of the blanket bog habitat. In 2020, The Flow Country took a huge step towards becoming the world's first Peatland World Heritage Site by passing the first stage of the nomination process.