Our peatlands

Yorkshire Peat Partnership began in 2009 as an umbrella organisation to try to coordinate the restoration of the badly degraded peatlands in the uplands of northern Yorkshire. Since 2009, YPP has developed into the primary organisation coordinating the delivery of upland peatland restoration across the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks and Nidderdale National Landscape.
 

As at March, 2023, we have brought 42,868 ha of blanket bog into restoration management. We have blocked 2,632 km of eroding grips and gullies, reprofiled 3,915 km of hagging, and planted 1.3 million sphagnum plugs and 800,000 cottongrass plugs, and revegetated 209 ha of bare peat.

Peat is formed by dead vegetation that is unable to fully decompose in the waterlogged environment. Because the plants' decomposition is incomplete, their carbon is not released into the atmosphere; it is instead locked up in peat. Globally, peatlands are the largest terrestrial store of carbon. The carbon stored in peat is estimated to be twice that found in forests.

Flooding has been a significant problem across Yorkshire, with the Environment Agency spending £24 million in damage repairs in 2015/16. The real cost is, however, estimated to be much higher. Man-made drains (grips) cause water to run off upland catchments quickly, which can put populated areas at risk in times of heavy rainfall. Blocking these grips and restoring blanket bog vegetation can ‘slow the flow’ to keep these important habitats wet and limit flooding further down the river catchment.

Not only are peatlands a fantastic place for people and wildlife, they have a very important economic impact on the region. The ability to limit flooding in heavily populated regions could prevent £millions in damage repairs.
Functioning peatlands also reduce the amount water companies have to spend to clean contaminants. This reduced production cost could result in cheaper bills for customers like us.
Millions of people in the UK spend their leisure time in green/blue spaces. The main reasons to visit these places are the habitats and wildlife that can be found. This in turn, supports a range of local businesses including nature tourism, that may otherwise become isolated. Without intact habitats offering diverse experiences, people would not visit these rural locations.