Major peatland restoration partnership helps threatened birds return to Y Migneint

Marking World Peatlands Day, 2 June, the project highlights the vital role healthy peatlands play globally in tackling climate change and supporting biodiversity.

Supported by funding from the National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP), the three organisations have invested around £200,000 into restoring degraded peatland habitat across the upland landscape.

Mannon Lewis, NRW’s Strategic Projects lead for NPAP, said:

“This is a tremendous outcome for the Wales Peatland Action partnership, with delivery funded through NPAP. Firstly, it’s great to see partnership at work, which is essential when delivering peatland restoration at scale, such as on the Migneint. Secondly, it’s good to see these three organisations collaborate, pooling their proven expertise in delivering impactful peatland restoration that benefits nature, climate, and water flow issues. We look forward to reviewing the project progress and eventually uploading the data for public view on the Wales Peatland Map.”

So far, 65 hectares of peatland — the equivalent of around 91 football pitches — have been rewetted and restored, helping return this internationally important habitat to a healthier condition.

The ambitious partnership project is already showing encouraging results for some of Wales’ most threatened upland birds, with species including Curlew, Golden Plover, Black Grouse and Snipe recorded returning to restored areas.

David Smith, Senior Conservation Officer for RSPB Cymru said:

“We’re incredibly proud to be working in partnership with National Trust Cymru and Eryri National Park on this ambitious peatland restoration project on Y Migneint. Partnership working is vital if we’re to tackle the nature and climate emergencies at the scale needed, and it’s hugely encouraging to already be seeing Curlew, Golden Plover, Black Grouse and Snipe returning to restored areas. Healthy peatlands are critical for wildlife, carbon storage and water management, and this project shows what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared vision for nature recovery.”

Peatlands are one of Wales’ most valuable natural habitats, storing vast amounts of carbon, helping improve water quality and reducing downstream flood risk. However, when damaged and dried out, they begin releasing carbon into the atmosphere and become far less suitable for wildlife.

Dewi Davies, Project Manager with National Trust Cymru, said:

"Peatlands play a crucial role in tackling climate change. In a healthy condition they act like a big sponge, soaking up both water and carbon and provide vital habitats for a whole host of species. Restoring boggy landscapes like Y Migneint is a nature-based solution that delivers real benefits, and working in partnership is key to making it happen."

The restoration work at Y Migneinthas focused on rewetting dry and degraded peatland by slowing water movement across the landscape and restoring natural hydrology. By retaining water within the peat, the habitat can begin recovering naturally, creating better conditions for upland species to feed, breed and thrive.

The project highlights the importance of partnership working in tackling the nature and climate emergencies, bringing together expertise, funding and practical conservation action to achieve landscape-scale restoration.

Rachel Harvey, Peatland Officer at Eryri National Park said:

“We’ve long worked closely with RSPB and National Trust Cymru on peatland restoration projects, as they often require a collaborative and holistic approach. The work on Y Migneint is an excellent example of partnership working, and it’s incredibly encouraging to see such results so soon after hydrological restoration. The return of such iconic bird species is a fantastic sign that the wider habitat that supports them is on the road to recovery. We feel very lucky to have such a collaborative peatland community here in Wales.”

The work also forms part of wider efforts across Wales to restore peatlands and protect the many public benefits they provide for people, nature and climate.