Peatland Restoration

Peatlands are globally-rare habitats of international importance for biodiversity, water quality, natural flood management and carbon storage.  Whilst peatlands only cover 3% of the world’s land area, and thus are rarer in extent that tropical rainforests, they contain nearly 30% of all carbon stored on land. In fact, the peatlands of England contain more carbon than the forests of Europe. Blanket bog, a type of peatland, develops in cool, wet, upland areas and is particularly significant in the UK.

A healthy, functioning blanket bog is extremely important in providing various ecosystem or natural services for society, which can include:

• reductions in downstream flood risk and siltation
• reduction in wildfire severity on moorlands
• improvements in water quality
• reducing carbon loss and promoting sequestration of atmospheric carbon
• biodiversity improvements
• improvements in landscape quality and natural beauty

• Great North Bog - The protected landscapes of the Great North Bog represent around 92% of the upland peat in England. The Great North Bog includes four National Parks, three National Landscapes and the proposed South Pennines Park and represents significant opportunity to implement the peatland restoration objectives in the 25-Year Environment Plan. 
• Lancashire Peat Parnership - set up in 2009 to co-ordinate peatland restoration projects within the uplands of the Lancashire sub-region and border areas.  It is intended that through this co-ordination work, partners would be able to avoid duplication of effort and maximise resources. The Lancashire Peat Partnership is co-ordinated by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Forest of Bowland National Landscape, and is made up of a wide range of partners.  The Partnership works to restore peatlands across the Lancashire region and engage communities with these fascinating habitats, including being a partner of the Great North Bog.
   
• Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme - this ambitious  Defra funded project is working to reduce carbon losses from peatlands across England. The Forest of Bowland National Landscape team have been engaged, along with the National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and landowners in Bowland, with the programme since 2021. As of April 2026, the grant has funded more than 10,000ha of survey work across the National Landscape and funded nearly 1000ha of restoration capital works.