Restoring peatlands involves stabilising and re-vegetating areas of eroded peat. Here is a digger on Llwytmor, in the Western Carneddau, repairing a large, badly eroded area by re-profiling the steep-sided banks of exposed peat (or ‘peat haggs’) to a shallower angle, then covering them back over with turf. This helps the habitat to return to a stable state and prevents the peat from drying out and releasing carbon.
With support from the Welsh Peatlands Sustainable Management Scheme and the National Peatland Action Programme, peatland restoration works have been focused on Gledrffordd and Llwytmor, two of the largest areas of peatland in the Carneddau.
Restoration works have included re-profiling areas of exposed peat that are susceptible to drying out and releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
Eroded peat can also be restored by re-colonising the bare ground with suitable seeds, young Sphagnum moss plants, or mulch, with the help of volunteers.
Peatlands play a vital role in addressing climate change due to their huge potential to store carbon when the habitat is in a healthy condition.
Peatlands are an important home for wildlife, including rare and threatened birds such as curlews, merlins and hen harriers.
Peatlands also act like a sponge, absorbing and retaining huge volumes of water, slowing the flow, and helping to prevent the risk of flooding downstream. This sponge effect also means they can continue to feed river systems in drought conditions, which in turn increases the landscape’s resilience to changes in the climate and weather patterns.
Studying peat is a window into the past where biological matter such as pollen has been preserved, thereby providing a record of the historical environment thousands of years ago. This enhances our understanding of how the landscape has evolved and changed through history.
Learn more about what peatlands are, how they are formed, and why they’re important to protect.
Check out our Training page for training opportunities.
Check out the UK Peatland Strategy by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme to learn more.
Find out more about what’s happening across Wales and opportunities to get involved through the National Action Peatland Programme.
Check out our Training page for training opportunities.
Find out more about what’s happening across Wales and opportunities to get involved through the National Action Peatland Programme.
Check out the UK Peatland Strategy by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme to learn more.
