During the past couple of years United Utilities have been carrying out 'grip blocking' and other moorland restoration work on their Bowland Estate. Work has now started on some of the fell land over the boundary on Whitray Fell.

You may ask what is 'grip blocking'?

Between the 1950s and the 1980s extensive areas of moorland across the Pennines including the Bowland Fells were drained to improve their agricultural viability, however the creation of these drainage grips has caused and continues to cause significant damage to the moorland peat habitat: by destroying the hydrological balance.

Moorland and lowland peat stores large amounts of carbon and 'active' peat bogs have the potential to sequester a significant amount of carbon from the atmosphere: Thus potential for the Bowland Fells to play a significant role in the helping to control greenhouse gas emissions.

The Bowland Fells are designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): part of this designation is because these upland fells support the largest expanse of blanket bog and heather moorland in Lancashire and provide suitable habitat for a diverse upland breeding bird community which includes three species hen harrier, merlin and peregrine. Blocking up drainage grips also helps to restore blanket peat bog habitat and thus helps to manage the SSSi positively.

During the Autumn of 2008 the owner and farmer on Whitray Fell blocked more than 1.5km of drainage grips using a local contractor with extensive expertise in the work. The work was funded through his Environmental Stewardship agreement and supported by Lancashire Countryside Service. The work was carried out by skilled machine operators on a 7 tonne tracked hymac without the need to use any imported materials. In fact the contractor took the opportunity to train on site a couple of his employers in the techniques required.

The operator re-profiles the grip edges and uses vegetation/peat on site to block the grips at regular intervals. The result is water is held on the fell within the grips and it also spreads out into surrounding peat slowly seeping down the fell. This has the benefit of improving the moorland habitat and increasing carbon storage capacity. In addition it also reduces flash run off of water after heavy rainfall which in turn reduces flooding problems lower downstream plus reduces erosion of the soils off the fells and resulting silting up further down stream.

For further information please contact Tarja Wilson on 01200 426433 tarja [dot] wilson [at] lancashire [dot] gov [dot] uk