Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport & Ashop

Catchment Restoration Fund for Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop

• Tia Crouch, Science Project Manager, Moors for the Future • Richard Vink, Project Officer, National Trust

The project is based around the restoration of bare and eroding peat, which is a prominent feature on moorland in the High Peak. Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop

Eroding peat is the primary driver of diffuse pollution; the Rivers Ashop and Alport failing to meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.

Rivers Ashop /Alport are within the NT ; provide water for , Severn Trent Water Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop Importance of clear objectives

• Relevance • Baseline data • Challenging • How – cost/capability • SMART • What does success look like?

Are these smart objectives? • Reduce POC and its associates into the river Ashop by 50% from current levels by end 2014.

• Establish cotton grass (Eriophorum spp.) and other moorland species on all areas of bare peat associated with gully blocks by July 2015

• Presence of Sphagnum colonies on 80% of suitable habitat by July 2015. Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop What monitoring has shown Bare peat stabilisation is successful in reducing the extent of bare peat.

Vegetation quadrat BP4.P1.Q2 in April 2013 and July 2014 Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop Bare peat stabilisation together with gully blocking is successful in reducing sediment loss.

• 16g of POC trapped in TIMS units located in control gullies (unblocked and un-vegetated) • 0.2g of POC trapped in TIMS units located in blocked and re-vegetated gullies • This represents a 99% reduction in POC loss Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop Gully blocking is successful in raising sediment and water levels in gully systems.

Overlap fencing dam (number 83) in September 2013 and March 2015 Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop Moorland plant species have successfully established.

Common cotton grass in quadrat 15 in May 2013 and August 2014 Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop What are the wider benefits? • Improvements to: – water quality – carbon sequestration – Biodiversity – flood risk management

• Evidence from Making Space for Water Project – Lag times increase by up to 267% – Peak storm discharge decreases by up to 37% Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop How case studies have been developed to secure funding • Bid applications based on evidence

• New projects build on previous capital works

• Programme of work ensures added value Peatland Restoration Project: Rivers Alport and Ashop What were the main project challenges? • Ambition • Future management /maintenance and monitoring • Write bid as if not delivering it • Partnership working • Preparatory/planning period • new technology

• Weather • Contractor/suppliers – capacity/availability • Staff / clear up • Long term