The Mires-On-The Moors Project

A case study for UK landscape restoration The Mires-on-the Moors project

The story The restoration strategy “The Mires project shows fantastic During the 19th and 20th centuries huge South West Water proposed to Ofwat a creativity and partnership in swathes of upland peat bogs were drained 50p rise in annual water rates to fund a responding to climate change.” as part of a nationwide effort to increase £2.2m project to restore 2,000 hectares Julian Wright, policy advisor for climate change flagging agricultural productivity. The of peat bog on Exmoor between 2010 and water, Environment Agency. detrimental effects of this policy on the and 2015, in collaboration with the landscape are being felt today, nowhere Environment Agency, Exmoor National more so than on Exmoor and Dartmoor. Park Authority and Natural England. Ofwat a two-thirds reduction in the volume of Water is no longer stored as efficiently in supported the plan, stipulating the need water leaving the monitoring sites post- the peat, causing more water to run off for scientific evidence to evaluate the restoration. Across the 2000 hectares of the land and flow downstream into already effectiveness of the programme. The moorland due to be restored by 2015, swollen rivers during periods of high University of Exeter was chosen to carry this could represent a significant reduction rainfall. The peatlands have become dry out the work, funded by NERC, TSB and in water entering the River Exe at times and consequently are losing more carbon SWW. By blocking up drainage ditches, of high rainfall, equating to 6,630 than they can accumulate. The quality of the aim is to enhance water storage, Olympic-size swimming pools. The team water leaving the peat bogs is deteriorating improve water quality and facilitate a rise has also recorded significant improvements too. Carbon discolours the water and in water table levels, which will allow the in water quality as a result of restoration. increases its acidity, which causes problems peat to accumulate quicker and store The highest concentrations of dissolved downstream, especially in the South West more carbon. In the long term, the organic carbon, which contributes to where the water company extracts the region’s biodiversity is also expected to water discolouration, have fallen by up majority of water directly from rivers. This benefit. A University of Exeter team, led to 50 per cent, which may translate into raises the cost of water treatment, which by Professor Richard Brazier, has collected lower water treatment costs and higher ultimately is passed on to the bill payers. four years of data after installing monitoring carbon retention on the moorland. equipment at 200 locations to record changes in water levels, water quality and “ The Mires project is an excellent gas fluxes from these damaged blanket example of how a wide range of bogs. partners can work together to deliver multiple benefits to society The impact For more information please - a template for cost-effective contact Professor Richard Brazier Preliminary results from Professor Brazier’s landscape restoration nationwide.” team reveal a significant rise in the water tel: +44 (0) 1392 724443 Professor Richard Brazier, University of Exeter. table level of 2.65cm, which translates into email: [email protected]