Moorlands and Blanketbogs in Snowdonia. Large swathes of Snowdonia are covered in moorlands. These are wet, undulating plateaus With a thick layer of peat (wet, dead organic matter) that sits on top of the parent rock a cov- ering of vegetation over it. When the area receives water from rainfall alone, and peat covers all surfaces, it’s called ‘blanket bog’ . Where water feeds into the area from the surrounding slopes, and there’s less thickness of peat it’s called moorland. Drier, similar areas may be called heath lands! The most important area in Snowdonia is the Migneint- Arenig-Dduallt ; an area that spread from Ysbyty Ifan in the north to Rhydymain in the South, from Trawsfynydd in the west to Llyn Celyn in the East. Because of the importance of this wetland, most of it is a site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI) and it’s a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Why is wet soil important ? Moorland plants extract carbon from the air. The very wet conditions that exist there prevent these plants from decaying and turning into normal soil and so when they die, the carbon isn’t released into the atmosphere. It’s stored in the wet soil. However .... Whilst healthy moorlands store carbon, those that are too dry release carbon into the air thus creating carbon dioxide and contributing to climate change. Moorlands that are too wet release methane into the atmosphere; a gas that’s four times as bad as carbon diox- ide as a greenhouse gas. More carbon is stored in the moorlands of Wales than in all the vegetation of Wales ( and more in the Uk than in all the forests of the UK and France). If these woodland were de- stroyed, we’d all be up in arms protesting. As peat is under out feet, we often destroy it with- out thinking and so it’s important to raise awareness about it. If all the peat in Wales was destroyed it would amount to the entire carbon emission from all the cars used in Wales for 90 years. Moorlands continue to store carbon through their life, as organic matter from the plants above reach it and as the plants abstract carbon from the air. Healthy moorlands grow 1cm per 10 years, and in some areas of Snowdonia it’s over 6m deep. Ecology; Several rare species of birds nest in moorland areas such as the hen harrier, merlin and kes- trel. Other important birds visit occasionally; the Chough, Grouse and Red kite. The main plants of moorlands are heather, cotton grass, sphagnum moss, crowberry and bilberries and where water flows, reeds grow. There are also nationally rare butterflies and beetles to be seen here.

Keeping the balance; Conserving and enjoying. As this land is wet it’s of little worth to the farmer. People have had destructive impacts on the land that weren’t considered at the time as they tried to improve its worth. By now changes are afoot as mitiga- tion works take place to restore the moorlands. The LIFE project with the RSPB and its partners, work by the Forestry Commission and the National Trust as landowners and smaller projects by SNPA all play their part. Human impacts Effect Mitigation Open drainage Large furrows in the land; dangerous to Ditches blocked by using machines ditches to dry the people and animals. or with bales of old heather. Scien- land Water full of dissolved Carbon in rivers (it tific experiments are taking place looks ‘peaty’; water quality reduced, less to monitor the impact , measuring fish. methane levels and dissolved car- Rain flows quickly through the catchment bon levels as well as monitoring leading to a risk of flooding. the vegetation and wildlife. Habitats change – plants suffer and moor- land birds disappear. Conifers planted as Moorlands dried as trees absorb mois- When the trees are felled, cash crops ture. branches are used to block ditches Ditches opened to drain area; extra run- and slow the flow of water thus off . keeping the moorlands moist and Roads created across the land compacting healthy and slowing the flow of it. water into rivers. Heather burning; As sheep grazed the land, burning Regulated fires in rotation and out- Control of the land stopped. Old heather is tall and dries side the nesting season can help for grouse who quickly and with hot summers tinder dry prevent larger fires. Released car- need young short conditions exist. Accidental fires are a bon is sequestered back by re- heather for nesting great risk, If the peat starts to burn it’s maining plants quickly. A thick on and taller very difficult to put out, and the release of covering of young plants reduces heather to eat and carbon would be horrendous. (think of a evapotranspiration and helps to hide in. fire down a coal mine!) keep the area healthy. ‘Scrambler bikes’ Deep furrows are created by the bikes Scramblers need to be educated and 4x4’s on the that completely destroy the peat and the about their impact and the police land 4x4’s compact and kill the surrounding keep an eye on their activities vegetation. Without the sphagnum moss where the problem is severe. Fines and heather the area can’t reinstate itself can be handed out for damaging and remain healthy scientifically important areas in the name of ’fun’ . Towards the future. Keep an ear open for MICCI; Moorlands as Indicators of Climate Change Initiative a project started in the Peak district National Park. SNPA education services have adopted the idea and are taking pupils out to do scientific work on the moorlands and to improve their understanding of the area.