Protect our Peatlands
Donate today to fight climate change by repairing our damaged peatlands.
Peatlands are the UK’s largest carbon store. In the Peak District alone 20 million tonnes of carbon is stored in peat.
But this isn’t the whole story. Without healthy plant cover peatlands can be eroded at a rate of up to 1 meter a year – releasing all that stored carbon back into the atmosphere. 80% of Peak District peatland is in poor condition due to the massive legacy of industrial pollution, overgrazing, drainage and fires. This is having a catastrophic effect on climate and nature.
It is not too late to return our Peak District peatlands in the thriving habitats they once were, but we need your help. Donate today to help to restore this vital carbon capturing habitat for the future.
Help us to rewet our peatlands
We are working with our partners at Moors for the Future to restore peatlands back into their naturally wet and boggy condition. This will halt the loss of carbon, and as the moors return to health, they will begin to store carbon once more. Repairing the peatlands in the Peak District could have the same carbon capturing effect as planting 15,000 broadleaved trees each year.
Your donation will fund large-scale planting of sphagnum moss alongside other native moorland plants like cotton grass, crowberry and bilberry. It will also fund the creation of dams, raising the water to its natural level and allowing the peatlands to thrive.
Help us to reduce flooding and wildfires
Repairing peatlands reduces the risk and severity of flooding in the valleys of the Peak District and neighbouring cities. Healthy peatlands absorb rainfall, slowing the flow of flood water from the hills into the rivers below. Sphagnum moss, a keystone species of peatlands, can absorb an incredible 20 times its weight in water.
Restoring and re-wetting peatlands will also significantly reduce the risk of wildfires. Wildfires are one of the greatest threats to our upland habitats, devastating wildlife and causing damage that lasts for decades. By raising the water levels and revegetating with water-holding species such as sphagnum moss, our peatlands become more resilient against fire.
Help us to build evidence
Large-scale moorland restoration is still in its infancy. It is vital that we gather evidence to understand the impact of this important restoration work, and how it can be made more effective.
Your donation will support scientists to carry out essential research and monitoring to better understand the changing state of our peatlands and inform the restoration work of the future. It will also fund trained volunteers to help with specialist surveys, and support education activities with schools.