New LIFE for Welsh Raised Bogs

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Raised bogs are one of Wales’ rarest and most important habitats and, because of their environmental interest and importance, they are designated Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

The LIFE Welsh Raised Bogs project is the first national restoration programme for raised bogs and for any peatland habitat in Wales.

This 4-year pioneering and ambitious project aims to restore seven of the very best examples of raised bogs in Wales. Almost 4 square miles (over 900 hectares) will be restored to a better condition. This represents 50% of this habitat in Wales and 5% in the UK.

To find out more, check out the Natural Resources Wales project page, and watch a recent (and excellent) YouTube video by Justin Lyons, Land Manager of Cors Fochno, entitled Cors Fochno – Past Present and Future.

From the March 2021 newsletter:

A first for Rhos Goch National Nature Reserve

Sphagnum medium has been recorded for the first time at Rhos Goch National Nature Reserve (NNR).

It is also a first 10-km record for SO14 (the UK is divided into 10 km squares with individual numbering, usually two letters followed by two numbers as in SO14).

It is also a first for lowland Radnor according to the National Biodiversity Network.

 

Restoration work shows encouraging results

Despite lockdown restrictions in Wales and across the UK last winter, restoration work continued on two of our sites in Ceredigion. With the support and hard work of our contractors the project has created over 18,000 metres (11 miles) of peat bunds.

The work aims to restore more natural water levels at Cors Fochno and Cors Caron National Nature Reserves (NNR), two of the best and least damaged raised bogs remaining in the UK.

The peat bunds, or low-level banks of peat as they are also called, are approximately 25cm high and follow the natural contours of the raised bogs domes. The bunds are designed to slow the loss of water in the upper layer of the raised peat dome, holding the natural water level on the bog for longer.

After only a few months there are already encouraging signs that a more natural water level is starting to form.

Read more here.

Published: 26 March 2021