Home / Environment / Wildlife Boost: Cumbria Restores 1,077 Acres of Peatland
Wildlife Boost: Cumbria Restores 1,077 Acres of Peatland
31 Oct
Summary
- Restoration of 435 hectares of damaged peatland has begun.
- The project aims to protect communities from flooding.
- Specialist plants and dragonflies are expected to increase.
Work has commenced on an ambitious project to restore 435 hectares of peatland in Cumbria's Skiddaw Forest. This significant undertaking by Cumbria Wildlife Trust aims to revitalise one of the Lake District's largest blanket bog areas, which functions as a crucial carbon store.
The restoration efforts are expected to yield multiple benefits. By slowing the flow of water from the fells, the improved peatlands will offer enhanced protection against flooding for local communities. Furthermore, the project will create a more favourable habitat for a diverse range of wildlife.
Specialist flora, including sundews and sphagnum mosses, are anticipated to thrive, alongside an increase in dragonfly populations. Bird species such as snipe, which depend on wet grassland and moorland environments, will also benefit from the rewetting of the ground. Public access to Skiddaw Forest will remain unaffected during the three-to-four-month project.
