A partnership of regional and local organisations has been awarded funding (through South West Water) from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to restore 1,680 hectares of damaged peatland on Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Partnerships have been formed on all three moors including landowners, farmers, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties to deliver the restoration.
The three south west moors hold significant regional and national deposits of peat in the form of blanket bogs and valley mires. These wetland habitats are very important for farming, water quality, carbon storage, biodiversity, cultural history, farming and recreation but they are the most vulnerable in the UK to the impacts of climate change. Large swathes of our peatlands are not in good health. The project across all three moors aims to prevent further loss or decline and improve and restore these important habitats.
On Dartmoor the work has started at Flat Tor Pan to complete restoration of an area started in 2014/15. This is an area of healthy blanket bog which is eroding at the edges due to the presence of gullies and other features that carry water from the site. Without intervention these erosional features will result in further deterioration or loss of this important habitat as the water table is lowered and the peat dries out.
Contractors, staff from partner organisations, trainees and apprentices have been working together since early February to implement an agreed restoration plan for the area. The work involves creating wood and peat blocks across the gullies and erosional features to hold back the water and raise the water table. Small pools are created which are important features for a range of wildlife including iconic bird species such as dunlin and golden plover. The restoration plan is agreed with all interested parties and takes account of nature, archaeology and the needs of farmers who have common rights on the land.
Flat Tor Pan is located approximately 4km north west of Postbridge. If you are walking in the area you may see the machines and staff working in this remote location. You may also notice the access route used by the team across the farmland and common and, although this is quite visible, our experience from previous work suggests it will recover over the coming months. The machinery being used is specially adapted to work in sensitive areas and has very low ground pressure to reduce any impact. If you are passing, and it is safe to do so, please stop and talk to the team who would be happy to answer your questions about the work. The work here will continue until the end of March.
Restoration work is also about to begin at second site (Amicombe) in the north west of Dartmoor, this will continue until the end of March and then start again in August.
This 3 year programme of work across the south west moors is a great opportunity to maximise the long term benefits of peatland restoration to:
- increase the peatlands’ resilience to climate change and increase carbon storage;
- improve the hydrological function of the peatlands by improving the quality and quantity of water leaving the moors;
- help to store and slow the flow of water, potentially reducing the risk of flooding downstream;
- restore the ecosystems that support the recovery of the habitats and associated wildlife.
For more information please contact: David Leach, Peatland Restoration Project Officer on 01626 831007 or Chris Giles, Head of Conservation and Land Management on 01626 831005.
Donate for Dartmoor supports a variety of projects across Dartmoor. Donations of time and money are essential for us to be able to look after the heritage and wildlife of Dartmoor and to make it a place for everyone to enjoy today, tomorrow and for the future.