The team completes their biggest ever peatland survey

After miles of walking over very challenging bog full of tall heather and taking loads of measurements, the North Pennines National Landscape team has completed their biggest and most difficult peatland survey to date.

The team surveyed 1,800 hectares of peatland which is on part of the Geltsdale RSPB Nature Reserve, in the northwest of the North Pennines. The size of the peatland site was over double that of many other sites the team has surveyed using their current method. They had already carried out restoration work on another area of the reserve and decided to approach the RSPB staff to do more peatland restoration.

Any site which requires peatland restoration work needs to be surveyed, so the team can write up a peatland restoration plan and a report about the vegetation. The documents are then sent to the landowner so they are aware of the state of their land and the restoration work which could be undertaken. The team began the survey for the Geltsdale site in August 2024 and finished earlier this year. It was funded through Defra’s Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme.

The team’s field officers had many long, hard days doing the survey. Just getting to the peatland site itself was not easy. After arriving at Geltsdale, they had a good 45 minute-walk up a steep hill. There was also the extremely cold, wet and windy weather to face during the winter. A lot of the surveying was done in the winter because peatland restoration work is scheduled to fit around the bird breeding season, which is from April to June.

To do the survey, the team used peat rods to measure the depth of the peat. They also examined different aspects of the vegetation with 2m x 2m quadrats, such as the height of the heather, the percentage of species present and the type of habitat. The team surveyed the erosion features too, such as haggs and areas of bare peat, to determine which peatland restoration interventions would be suitable. The majority of the site was in a very good condition with plenty of sphagnum and other bog vegetation. However, there were some areas which were very dry with large gullies, where surface runoff had caused extensive erosion.

Survey stats:

• 1,372 peat depth points measured
• 112 miles of walking (plus all the walking in and out of the site)
• Around 65 staff days

The team has since analysed the data using ArcGIS, a mapping software, and has written up the restoration plan and vegetation report. The plan details the recommended restoration interventions which are based on a combination of factors such as peat depth, vegetation cover, the size of the gullies, slope gradient, how easy it would be to for a digger to access the site, and the flow of water. Some of the proposed restoration interventions include: stone dams, timber dams, peat dams, and re-profiling.

Restoring peatlands reduces the flood risk for communities because the flow of water is slowed. The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is decreased as the peatland acts as store of carbon, locking it into the peat. Protecting our peatlands is also necessary because they provide a home for an array of wildlife.

The team has shared their findings from the survey with staff at RSPB to explain what restoration work is required. Given the size of the peatland site, it is likely that any restoration work would occur over several years.

Ian Ryding, RSPB Geltsdale Reserve Manager, commented: “It’s fantastic that the North Pennines National Landscape team has carried out this health check of the peatland across the reserve and provided us with a clear picture of work required. We’ve worked closely together over the years creating wetlands, improving peatland and introducing the use of invisible fencing systems to allow our cattle to graze wood pasture. We’re still at the planning stage but this peatland restoration work is a really exciting project that will breath life back into the moorland, making it more resilient to climate change and better for wildlife.”

Paul Leadbitter, Peatland Programme Manager of the North Pennines National Landscape said: “Surveys are a crucial part of our peatland restoration work in the North Pennines and help us to identify where restoration can make an impact. Our long-standing partnership with the RSPB is an example of how a collaborative approach to peatland restoration is essential for carrying out the work at a landscape-scale.”