Moors for the Future Partnership and National Highways celebrate an exciting new partnership that will deliver peatland restoration works to protect two major Pennine roads from the risks of flooding and wildfire.
The work is being carried out on moorlands around the A628, linking Greater Manchester with South Yorkshire and the M62 which connects Liverpool and Hull via Manchester, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield. Both the A628 and M62 connect major urban centres via the most elevated and exposed parts of England’s strategic road network of motorways and major A roads. Both run, in part, through the protected peatland landscape of the Dark Peak and South Pennines Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Boosting nature through restoring the upland moors increases their ability to protect the road network from the impacts of a changing climate rather than more costly and labour intensive, manmade structures.
The RSPB and United Utilities are also partners on the project. The evidence-led upland peatland conservation works will involve a suite of techniques including sphagnum planting which will help to rewet the peatlands and boost biodiversity.
Restoration interventions in these road corridors will have a significant positive impact on both the habitat and the flood and fire risk currently posed in the area as a result of the highly degraded condition of the peatlands.
In addition to supporting restoration works planning, a hardy group of National Highways’ staff volunteers braved the February 30mph gusting winds and piercing rain. Here, they gained firsthand experience of sphagnum planting on Snailsden Moor. A peatland restoration site overlooking the continuous flow of traffic along the A628 and that demonstrates how closely these habitats and major arteries interconnect. The group planted in the challenging conditions, an area covering 1.3Ha and placed 1600 sphagnum plugs that will help to rewet the moor.
The programme with National Highways presents an innovative approach for them, of using natural processes and healthy habitats as protection of the SRN. The works are part of an even wider programme of £25 million of green finance investment which will ensure a boost for crucial ecosystem services provided by peatlands, such as biodiversity, carbon storage, increased water quality and Natural Flood Management (NFM). Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water have invested significant sums in Moors for the Future Partnership’s work in recognition of the multiple benefits it can bring for the companies and their customers.
Matt Scott-Campbell, Partnership Manager at Moors for the Future Partnership said: “This successful work marks an important moment where our Partnership has grown to include one more actively involved Partner in National Highways, who’s approach to mitigating climate change related risks to roads infrastructure fully acknowledges the value of working with natural processes. This important collaborative work highlights the importance of recognising Nature as Critical Infrastructure in response to climate change, and demonstrates how a healthy and resilient peatland landscape can directly benefit the resiliency of the Strategic Road Network (SRN)”.
Steve Elderkin, Director of Environmental Sustainability at National Highways said: “Nature based solutions are a vital part of National Highways environmental commitments. By working with Moors for the Future Partnership and our wider partners, we are helping to restore damaged peatlands – bringing benefits for nature, local communities and the long-term resilience of our major roads. Healthy peatlands slow the flow of water, reduce wildfire risk, help capture carbon, and support wildlife.”
Phil Mulligan, CEO of the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “You can see how successful partnership working has transformed the peatland of the Peak District National Park. We are the UK’s first national park and this year are celebrating its 75th anniversary. “Pioneer” as one of our core values so it’s fantastic that Moors for the Future Partnership are keeping that spirit of innovation alive and central in their work. Onboarding National Highways as another highly capable Partner in expanding Nature Based Solutions to tackle climate change will bring many benefits to wider society for generations to come.”