Blanket bog restoration in northern Yorkshire 

Lyndon Marquis, Communications Officer, describes the work of Yorkshire Peat Partnership. 

What is Yorkshire Peat Partnership? 

We are an umbrella organisation comprising Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Natural England, North York Moors National Park Authority, Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency. We also receive support from Nidderdale AONB, Ribble Rivers Trust, National Trust, Moorland Association, National Farmers Union and Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. 

Since Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) was formed in 2009, we have become the primary organisation coordinating peatland restoration across Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks, Nidderdale and Forest of Bowland AONBs and northern parts of the South Pennines.  

The majority of our funding has come through the public sector, either through Higher Level Stewardship/Countryside Stewardship or directly from Defra. We have also received significant funding from Yorkshire Water. 

What work does Yorkshire Peat Partnership do? 

Since 2009, Yorkshire Peat Partnership has brought 31,526 ha of peatland – that’s an area bigger than York – into restoration management by:  

• blocking 2,100 km of grips and gullies 

• reprofiling 3,250 km of hagging 

• planting 220,350 sphagnum plugs and 210,470 cottongrass plugs 

• revegetating 140 ha of bare peat 

Our surveying and monitoring team have been restless both in their efforts – 54,728 ha surveyed on foot and 11,600 ha surveyed by air – and in their innovation and refinement of our data mapping and analysis techniques. Despite this staggering amount of work, that’s still only 33% of the estimated 94,760 ha of blanket bog in North Yorkshire. 

Is this work as difficult as it sounds? 

The environment in which we work - upland peatland between 200m and 500m - is extremely challenging. Similarly, the timing of the restoration season - November to March - means that we are in this environment with the worst of the weather. 

Is the importance of restoring blanket bogs widely understood? 

Public perception of the value of peatlands was (and still can be) very challenging, we still encounter an attitude of “just plant trees on them.” 

If you’ve not spent time in these environments, understood how damaged they are, how ignored they’ve been for so long, it’s difficult to understand how moving it is to see them recovering. 

Why is this work important? 

• Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon, but damaged peat releases its stored carbon into the atmosphere, adding to climate change. Restoration reduces these emissions and enables peat bogs to take in more carbon in the future.  

• Healthy peatlands slow the flow of water from the hills, reducing the impact of flooding in towns and cities downstream. 

• Eroding peatlands discolour drinking water – restoring peatlands reduces the costs of providing safe drinking water.  

• They support wildlife, and restoration helps reverse the trend of decline in upland species.  

Were there any unexpected benefits of your work? 

Our programme has benefitted local economy, with several local contractors expanding their businesses to meet the challenges of peatland restoration. 

How does your work mitigate against climate change? 

We estimate that the area we have restored holds up to 14,691,116 tonnes of carbon. By restoring that habitat to functioning blanket bog, we are keeping that carbon locked up in the ground. Without this work, it will eventually escape either into the atmosphere or our river systems (whence it will wind up in the atmosphere). 

How does your work help Yorkshire develop resilience to climate change? 

This work helps to protect communities downstream from flooding; lowers the cost of producing safe drinking water; restores the natural beauty of peatlands, creating somewhere appealing to visit; provides a home for unique and fascinating wildlife. 

According to figures from University of Manchester, restored peatland (vs. unrestored) reduces the peak volume of flow by 57%, and triples the time between peak rain and peak flow. This helps to protect communities downstream from flooding. 

How quickly does your work have an impact on biodiversity? 

It’s amazing to see how quickly these habitats can start to bounce back if we just give them a helping hand, sphagnum filling newly formed pools, downy cottongrass blooms bobbing in the breeze. 

What are your plans for the future? 

We are constantly refining our restoration techniques to make them more effective and cost effective. 

With our partners in the Great North Bog project we are now looking at how we can streamline funding for peatland restoration; improve the efficacy of peatland restoration techniques across all partners; improve efficiencies in the sector. 

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Find out who else is doing this around the country – what can you learn from each other? 

Photo credit: © Jenny Sharman YPP