The EU’s LIFE+ programme awarded Natural England a grant of £2.3 million for the Humberhead Peatlands restoration LIFE+ project. This funding will be used over 3 years to:
- increase the area of peat bog habitat under active restoration
- improve rare habitats which support sensitive wildlife and plants (eg nightjar, hobby, cotton grasses, bog mosses and wild cranberries)
- support research and monitoring of the bog’s bird and insect populations
Additional funding of £1.9 million has been provided by the Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board, as well as a contribution from Natural England.
Work to restore the peatlands will also have wider benefits. These include:
- a reduced risk of flooding as a greater volume of water will be stored
- an increased level of carbon dioxide being absorbed from the atmosphere, which will help prevent climate change
See the leaflet above for more information, including details of the partners involved in the project
Background
Humberhead Peatlands is a National Nature Reserve (NNR), which includes Thorne, Hatfield and Crowle Moors. It is home to the UK’s largest raised bog complex.
The area was formerly used for commercial peat extraction, which has left large areas of the moors in poor condition. Careful management is, however, allowing peat-forming vegetation to regenerate.
Areas on Thorne and Hatfield Moors have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) for the internationally rare habitats of lowland raised mire which are home to rare birds and invertebrates. Parts of Thorne and Hatfield Moors have also been designated a Special Protection Area for their populations of breeding nightjar.
See the Humberhead Peatlands NNR leaflet for more information about the site.
View images of Humberhead Peatlands on Natural England’s Flickr page.
Aims of the project
Improved control of water levels
The project seeks to encourage bog mosses to grow on the lowland raised mire by creating stable water levels. This will be achieved by:
- clearing scrub
- installing weirs, peat dams and bunds
- preventing flooding using an automatically operated pumping station
This work will help the SAC to achieve ‘favourable condition’ by encouraging the growth of peat-forming vegetation.
Monitoring
The project will monitor the effects of the bog restoration on:
- nightjars
- invertebrate species
- vegetation
The monitoring officer will produce regular data, surveys and reports to show what changes have occurred.
Raised public awareness
Information to explain the work being undertaken at the Humberhead Peatlands will be shared by:
- community events
- newsletters
- website updates
The results of the work will be published in regular reports and at a conference at the end of the project.
Progress
A launch event was held on 27 October 2014, chaired by David Shaw, Natural England’s Area Manager for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire. Speakers included:
- Linda McAvan, MEP for Yorkshire and Humber
- Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP
- Professor David Hill, Natural England’s Vice-Chairman
Work on the project has already begun, with members of the team starting to clear scrub.
Meetings
Members of the project steering group meet on a regular basis. If you would like to see minutes of these meetings, email: sue.plaxton@naturalengland.org.uk
Further information
More information about associated projects taking place at the Humberhead Peatlands is available on these websites: