The conservation initiative focuses on repairing 435 hectares of damaged Lake District peatland alongside a 6km boundary fence. Rewetting the landscape will slow water runoff from the fells to provide crucial flood protection for local communities downstream. Additionally, the recovered habitat will benefit native species, including sphagnum mosses, dragonflies, and snipe. Work on the site is slated to conclude within three to four months.
Key points
Restoring the blanket bog helps protect downstream communities by slowing water flow off…: Restoring the blanket bog helps protect downstream communities by slowing water flow off the fells.
Rewetted ground creates vital habitats for specialist plants like sundews and animals suc…: Rewetted ground creates vital habitats for specialist plants like sundews and animals such as snipe.
Public access across Skiddaw Forest will remain entirely unaffected while the restoration…: Public access across Skiddaw Forest will remain entirely unaffected while the restoration takes place.
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Work has started on a project to restore 435 hectares (1,077 acres) of damaged peatland.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust will carry out the work in Skiddaw Forest where it will also repair a 6km (3.7-mile) boundary fence.
The forest is home to one of the largest continuous areas of blanket bog in the Lake District and acts as a huge carbon store.
Peatland team manager for the trust Susie Webb said: "Once improved, the peatlands will also slow the flow of water off the fells, which will help protect local communities downstream from flooding and will benefit a huge variety of wildlife."
The project is expected to take between three and four months but public access to Skiddaw Forest won't be affected.
Webb said: "We expect to see an increase in specialist plants such as sundews and sphagnum mosses and greater numbers of dragonflies.
"Birds such as snipe, which live on wet grassland, marshes and moorlands, will benefit from the rewetted ground."
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