Cumbria Wildlife Trust Launches Peatland Restoration in Skiddaw Forest

Cumbria Wildlife Trust has started a large‑scale rewilding project aimed at repairing the peatland that underlies Skiddaw Forest in the Lake District, marking the first phase of a multi‑year effort to return the landscape to a more natural state.

Peatlands, though covering only about 3 % of the UK’s land area, store roughly a third of its soil carbon. In the upland areas of Cumbria, healthy peat acts as a sponge that regulates water flow, supports rare plant communities and provides habitat for species such as red grouse and mountain hare. The degradation of the Skiddaw peat has therefore implications for both climate mitigation and local biodiversity.

Decades of drainage, over‑grazing and historic timber extraction have left the Skiddaw peat layer fragmented and exposed to erosion. Surface runoff has stripped away vegetation, while the lowered water table has accelerated the release of stored carbon as carbon dioxide. The Trust’s assessment concluded that without intervention the site could continue to act as a net source of greenhouse gases.

Restoration work this spring focuses on re‑wetting the peat by installing a network of low‑tech damming structures, known as “blocking” or “re‑wetting bundles,” to raise the water table. In parallel, native sphagnum moss and heather are being re‑planted to accelerate the re‑establishment of peat‑forming vegetation. Monitoring stations will track water levels, vegetation growth and carbon flux over the coming years.

The project is funded through a combination of grants from the UK Government’s Nature for Climate Fund and contributions from local conservation charities. The Trust plans to complete the initial blocking phase within twelve months, after which adaptive management will guide further interventions. Volunteer groups from nearby communities have been recruited to assist with planting and site inspections, fostering a sense of local stewardship.

The Skiddaw initiative aligns with national targets to restore at least 35 % of the UK’s peatlands by 2030, a key component of the country’s net‑zero strategy. Success here could provide a template for similar upland sites across northern England. The Trust will publish interim findings later this year, and a full review is scheduled for 2028 to evaluate ecological recovery and carbon sequestration outcomes.