Peatland
Lancashire contains approximately 135,000 hectares of peat soils, according to Natural England’s Peaty Soils layer. Key upland areas include the Forest of Bowland, West Pennines and Forest of Rossendale, the first two of which are designated as SSSIs in part for the blanket bog habitat, the latter sits outside any such designation but is an important link between the West Pennine Moors and the South Pennines. Land-use in the uplands in the main is water company catchment, agricultural grazing land, grouse moors, common land and windfarms. Key lowland areas include the Alt Crossens and Pilling Moss. Some small areas of these are designated as SSSI but the majority sits outside of designation. Lowland peat areas are generally agricultural crop and grazing land.
Many of our peatlands are in a progressive state of degradation[i]. Only 13% of England’s peatlands are in a near natural state and much of our lowland peat is currently used for intensive agriculture[ii]. Winmarleigh Moss SSSI is the largest area of lowland raised bog remaining in Lancashire and is the only one that survives in anything like its original condition[iii]. White Moss SSSI in Ribble Valley is the best surviving example of an actively growing basin mire in Lancashire. At least 95% of the lowland peat mosses existing in Lancashire in 1948 have been lost.[iv] This loss has mainly been due to reclamation for agriculture, peat extraction, repeated burning or afforestation. National blanket bog losses of 30% between 1930 and 1980 were mainly due to overgrazing, indiscriminate historic moor burning, afforestation and the abandonment of grouse moors.[v] No specific data is available on the condition of Lancashire's upland peat habitats, although it is expected that similar rates of loss will apply to Lancashire's upland peat habitats over the same period.
Table 10: Pressures and opportunities for recovery (Peatland Habitats)
| Pressures | Example habitats affected | Broad species assemblages affected (including example species[1]) | Opportunities identified |
|---|---|---|---|
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Blanket bog Hydrologically linked land Lagg fen Lowland heathland Lowland raised bog Mires & quaking bogs Shallow peaty soils Upland heathland
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Bogs (including bog pools, blanket, raised and mire) 21 shortlisted species including - Birds:
Invertebrates:
Plants:
Scrub-heath & moorland with structural diversity Moorland & Woodland Edge, lowland and upland heathland, upland flushes, marsh/fen and purple moor-grass & rush pasture 53 shortlisted species including - Birds:
Reptiles:
Invertebrates:
Plants:
Lichen:
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To engage sustainable management practices following habitat restoration. To stack public body funding and private investment in nature recovery (such as the Peatland Carbon Code standard or Water Industry National Environment Improvement Programme). Monitoring to evidence improvements following restoration and inform further restoration work. Develop a countywide wildfire strategy. Better engagement across the upland land manager sector, sharing best practice and upskilling contractors and practitioners. Develop a new water level management strategy. Opportunities for a more sustainable management approach to peatland soils through wetter farming. |
Table 11: Peatland priorities, potential measures, and associated benefits
| Priority | Measure | Shortlist species benefited | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
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P1. Sustainable land use of lowland peat soils creating a mosaic of peatland habitats supporting a variety of species. |
P1.1 - Wetter farming - where it leads to peat formation or transition to restoration for example Sphagnum farming, Typha growing, willow crop and carbon farming. |
Mammals:
Birds:
Reptiles:
Invertebrates:
Plants:
Lichen:
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National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C1, C2, C3, G1, G2, G3, P2, P3
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P1.2 - Productive agriculture on wet or rewetted peaty soils to buffer and enhance habitats adjacent to peatland habitats. |
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P1.3 - Create or update sustainable water level management plans to:
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P1.4 - Landscape-scale joined up Wildfire Management Plans that cross land boundaries including a fire ranger scheme to educate public and with powers to close areas of high risk. |
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P1.5 - Work with DEFRA to pilot a northwest-wide traffic light system to manage fire risk. |
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P2. Lowland peatlands and their supporting habitats restored and connected at a landscape-scale. |
P2.1 - Restore and enhance key connecting and relict lowland peatland sites for example raised bog, lagg, fen, lowland heathland. |
As above |
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C1, C2, C3, G2, G3, P1, P3 |
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P2.2 - Hydrological restoration to support lowland peatland habitat creation and enhancement. |
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P2.3 - Create corridors and steppingstones of lowland peatland and other wetland habitats in between fragmented lowland raised bog and associated habitats for example wet woodland, reedbeds and wet heath. |
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P2.4 - Expansion, sensitive management and restoration of lowland heath. |
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P3. Active growing lowland peatlands supporting rich biodiversity. |
P3.1 – Re-establish and restore lowland peatland habitats (such as lowland raised bog) on deep peat and in other locations with the potential to return to active peat-forming bogs. |
As above |
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C2, C3, W1, U2 |
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P3.2 - Create transitional habitats between lowland peatland and non-peatland habitats in appropriate areas to support biodiversity and hydrology for example lagg, fen and wet woodland. |
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P3.3 - Inoculate suitable lowland peatland sites for example raised bog, lagg, fen and lowland heathland with appropriate plant species from suitable donor sites. |
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Upland peatland |
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Priority |
Measure |
Shortlist species benefited |
Benefits |
|
P4. Functioning upland peatlands forming peat at a landscape-scale. |
P4.1 - Restore hydrology of upland peat soils such as grip and gully blocking. |
Mammals:
Birds:
Reptiles:
Invertebrates:
Plants:
Lichen:
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National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C1, C2, C3, G1, G2, G3, P1, P2, P3, P5, P6, R1, R2, R4, W1, W2, U1, U2, U3
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P4.2 - Revegetation of key upland peatland plant species in areas of restored hydrology dependent on site specific conditions including seeding, plug planting, encouraging revegetation. |
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P4.3 - Restore and reconnect appropriate relic areas back to active blanket bog and mire through management changes, practical interventions and encouraging Sphagnum growth. |
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P4.4 – Re-establish and restore upland peatland habitats (such as blanket bog, wet heath and mire) on deep peat and in other locations with the potential to return to active peat-forming bogs. |
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P4.5 - Maintain and enhance existing blanket bog in good ecological/favourable condition through appropriate management for example sustainable grazing and cessation of burning. |
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P5. A mosaic of upland peatland, non-peatland and connecting transitional habitats in the uplands supporting a variety of species. |
P5.1 - Management to maintain and enhance upland peatland species and habitat diversity through, for example:
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Purple moor-grass & rush pasture Invertebrates:
Upland flushes Plants:
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National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C2, G1, G2, G3, P4, P6 |
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P5.2 - Management and restoration of upland heath through sensitive management. |
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P5.3 - Management, restoration and expansion of species-rich purple moor-grass & rush pasture and upland flushes. |
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P6. Sustainable land use and management of upland peat soils. |
P6.1 - Work with DEFRA to pilot a northwest-wide traffic light system to manage fire risk. |
As above
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National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, C2, G1, G2, G3, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, W1, W2, U4 |
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P6.2 - Landscape-scale joined up Wildfire Management Plans that cross land boundaries including a fire ranger scheme to educate public and with powers to close areas of high risk. |
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[1] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten
[i] Bain, C., 2021. The Peatlands of Britain and Ireland. Sandstone Press.
[ii] UK Government (2021) England Peat Action Plan. Together for Our Planet
[iii] Lancashire County Council, (1990) Landscape and Wildlife Strategy for Lancashire. Nature Conservancy Council. Section 8 Semi-Natural Habitats and Species Protection, Para 13, P.21
[iv] Nature Conservation in Great Britain 1984, Nature Conservancy Council.
[v] Lancashire County Council, (1990) Landscape and Wildlife Strategy for Lancashire. Nature Conservancy Council. Section 8 Semi-Natural Habitats and Species Protection, Para 18, P.23