On a chilly morning in Yorkshire, 25 volunteers gathered at Bridestones Moor for a first-of-a-kind peatland restoration project led by Bridestones Rewilded, a not-for-profit community interest company. The group bought the 114-acre moorland to protect it from overfarming and restore its ecological function. Co-founder Anthony Arak described the site as a “magnet for people” due to its unique rock formations.
The project, in partnership with the Yorkshire Peat Partnership, uses coir logs and wooden stakes to block gullies and prevent water drainage. Project manager Tessa Levens explained how Sphagnum moss acts as a natural sponge, keeping peat wet and preventing carbon release. England’s peatlands, though only 3% of land, store twice as much carbon as the world’s forests.
However, 80% are dry and degraded due to historical extraction and drainage. In Somerset, the Wildlife Trust is using deep-trench cell bunding to restore wetlands at Westhay Moor. Scientists warn that damaged peatlands risk releasing stored carbon as droughts intensify.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing