Yorkshire Upland Peatland Restoration Project

1
Yorkshire Upland Peatland Restoration Project

• Peter Welsh

2
State of Project

• Very early stages outline only (Yorkshire Dales
  NPA coordinated first meeting and project
  outline)
• Core group developing the project Yorkshire
  Dales and North York Moors NPAs Nidderdale AONB
  Environment Agency Natural England Pennine
  Prospects Yorkshire Water Yorkshire Wildlife
  Trust
• Likely objectives Restoration of upland
  peatlands of Yorkshire - beyond existing work.
  For biodiversity water quality and quantity
  (incl flood alleviation) peat and carbon
  landscape historic features public
  understanding and engagement

3
Potential Activities

• Agreements with/advice to landowners and farmers
  on land management
• Works programmes
• Data collation
• Carbon capture
• Interpretation and engagement
• Monitoring and research

4
On-TheGround Works Required

• Grip blocking (eg 4,500 km of grips mapped for
  the Yorkshire Dales/Nidderdale) some works
  ongoing through agri-environment schemes
• Gully blocking/restoration locally significant
  but no action ongoing at present
• Bare peat peat hag restoration relatively
  small areas of bare peat but some large areas of
  peat hagging
• Access erosion control limited issue and
  activity
• Bog pools for Sphagnum and any other species
  reintroductions not required in many parts of
  region

5
Other Planned Activities

• Data collation grips eroding areas habitats
  and other environmental features landowner
  views/interest
• Land management forms of grazing and burning
  management development of advice service
• Monitoring and research roll-out existing
  scientific advice on restoration techniques and
  land management further work on - carbon
  storage peat structure carbon in heaths
  relation to climate change impacts on ecosystems
  understanding and engagement
• Carbon capture help develop regional off-setting
  project
• Wider interpretation and engagement recognise
  benefits of projects like Moors for the Future,
  Peatscapes and thus aim to further promote
  understanding, appreciation and involvement

6
Potential Partners

• Country Landowners Assn Defra
• English Heritage Environment Agency
• Farmers Landowners Heather Trust
• Moorland Association Moors for the Future
• National Farmers Union National Trust
• Natural England Nidderdale AONB
• North York Moors NPA Pennine Prospects
• Research Institutions Yorkshire Dales NPA
• Yorkshire Forward Yorkshire Water
• Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

7
Next Steps

• Early meeting of core partners and exploration
  with wider group of potential partners to
  confirm objectives geographical area project
  group and plan funding requirements/bids
• Ongoing agri-environment scheme work
  communicate programme to partners ensure
  coverage of wider objectives as far as practical
• Clarify links to CREDIT and regional carbon
  offsetting work

8
Questions

• Carbon offsetting agreeing a line between this
  and agri-environment scheme funding?
  Significant funds available within ES HLS
• Carbon offsetting what can it fund
  timescale?
• Learning from existing projects funding
  project officers and integration with agency
  staff involving farmers and landowners public
  understanding and engagement?