Peatland Restoration on Exmoor – Review and Recommendations
The Exmoor Mire Restoration project is a highly regarded project which began in July 2006 and is to finish in June 2010. During this period restoration work has taken place at 12 moorland locations on Exmoor, which has resulted in the re-wetting of over 300 hectares of moorland. The project activities have included blocking ditches with bales, wood and peat dams and water management. Funding has now been secured for a new phase of project activity under the new 'Mires on the Moors' project, which will run from 2010 to 2015.
CCRI has been commissioned
1) To conduct a review of peatland restoration on Exmoor to identify the impacts of the project to date, incorporating both expert and local stakeholder opinion.
2) To give guidance to the Steering Group on how best to proceed with future peatland restoration, while furthering National Park purposes and having regard to the economic and social well being of the local community.
The work will take place in two phases. A review phase will look at existing peatland restoration data and existing peatland restoration and management projects and a second phase of field work will involving in-depth interviews with experts and landowners and a stakeholder workshop. The project will make recommendations on how future peatland restoration work might be best encouraged, supported and organised. This will include guidance on ways to: encourage landowners and managers to support peatland restoration on their land; effectively engage other stakeholders; secure the wider understanding and support of the Exmoor community; and pursue future research and monitoring.
Jane Mills is the Project Leader and is assisted by Chris Short, Julie Ingram, Lindsey McEwen and Frank Chambers. The project value is £22,915.
