Restoring precious peatlands
Peat is a vital tool in our fight against climate change. Healthy peat bogs trap carbon, locking it underground, storing even more carbon than forests. However, degraded peatlands can have the opposite effect, releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
By building leaky dams, planting sphagnum moss and reducing soil erosion, we can restore these peatlands to healthy, boggy uplands once more.
Not only do healthy peat soils trap carbon, they also act like giant sponges, slowing the flow of water. This reduces both flood risk and fire risk.
The National Trust and Yorkshire Water are working closely with organisations like Moors For The Future, who are leading pioneering research into how to look after peat bogs in the South Pennines.