Since 2009, The Yorkshire Peat Partnership has been working with landowners, contractors, keepers, agents and farmers to help restore Yorkshire’s internationally important peatlands.
Why the Yorkshire Peat Partnership?
Sadly less than 20% of Yorkshire’s peatlands remain undamaged. Peatlands host specialist bird species such as curlews and rare plants such as cranberry and peat forming sphagnum mosses. Peatland habitats are also vital for water quality, carbon storage and to help slow down global warming. Without projects to help stop these habitats degrading we will lose a very precious resource.
What are the aims of the YPP?
The Yorkshire Peat Partnership aimed to meet the following goals by March 2017:
- Restore 35,000ha of peatland.
- Block approximately 2,600km of grips and 800km of gullies.
- Revegetate nearly 170ha of bare peat.
- Support high quality research and monitoring and promote best practice and raise awareness of the importance of peat.
What are the Yorkshire Peat Partnership’s achievements?
YPP has blocked 1,844km of drainage channels and revegetated 108ha of exposed peat. YPP has monitored 31 restoration sites, surveyed over 40,000ha and restored 27,223ha of blanket bog. YPP has worked with universities to ensure high quality research and monitoring. Overall, YPP has completed restoration works on 56 sites to contribute to the survival of Yorkshire’s peatlands. You can read a summary report of our progress online.
Who has been involved in YPP?
The Yorkshire Peat Partnership is led by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, funded by Natural England, Environment Agency, Yorkshire Dales NPA, Yorkshire Water, North York Moors NPA and supported by National Trust, Ribble Rivers Trust, Nidderdale AONB, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, National Farmers Union and the Moorland Association.
YPP has worked with over 40 volunteers and collaborates with the University of York, Leeds, Hull and Gloucestershire to deliver high quality research and workshops.