Case study:Source to Sea Programme – 5. Borrowdale Moss, Peatland Restoration

Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site	http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/conservation-projects/upland-wetland-restoration
Themes	Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Land use management - agriculture, Peat, Water quality
Country	England
Main contact forename	Simon
Main contact surname	Thomas
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Contact organisation web site	http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/
Partner organisations	Arnside & Silverdale AONB Partnership, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Woodlands, Lune Rivers Trust, Morecambe Bay Partnership, RSPB, South Cumbria Rivers Trust
Parent multi-site project	Case_study:Source to Sea Programme
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

Borrowdale Moss (Forest Hall) - Re-profiled peat hags

Project summary

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Borrowdale Moss is an extensive area of blanket bog occupying the head of Borrowdale and the heads of the adjacent valleys of Crookdale and Bannisdale, immediately south of the large blanket bogs of the Shap Fells SSSI. Whilst scattered patches of intact blanket bog remain over the majority of the site extensive linear peat hags have left an undulating surface with extensive species-poor vegetation on eroded sections and exposed dry peat.

The Borrowdale Moss Peatland Restoration project is designed to address diffuse pollution issues concerning the River Sprint (a tributary of the Kent) and Borrow Beck (a tributary of the Lune). In particular, this project will address the issue of degraded peatland in the headwaters. Drain-blocking and re-vegetation of bare peat has been shown to reduce particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) downstream, reduce carbon loss and there is growing evidence of a hydrological response changing to a less ‘flashy’ character. Peatland restoration therefore benefits not only peatland soils, vegetation and hydrological ecosystem services but also stream water quality and biodiversity downstream.

Through an extensive restoration programme involving grip blocking, re-profiling and re-vegetation of bare peat over a site greater than 800 hectares, this project will address key diffuse pollution issues in the headwaters of a number of watercourses. The project aims to move from moderate to good the River Sprint and to ensure no deterioration of Borrow Beck from good water body status. There is a real danger that unless the degraded and eroded peat on the blanket bog at the head of this valley is not addressed, that the consequences on water quality will continue to rise. The restoration will also complement and help the integrity of the adjoining Shap Fells SSSI and Lake District High Fells SAC that is currently undergoing similar works. A walkover of the site has shown that the area is extensively ‘hagged and gullied’ with areas of bare peat. Aerial photographs have identified extensive grip systems.

This project, in combination with River Restoration Strategy works being undertaken by partners, will enable good status to be achieved by tackling reasons for failure (diffuse pollution), particularly in the form of sediments. It will also meet targets for flood alleviation.

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Location: 54° 27' 5.71" N, 2° 44' 43.24" W

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Image gallery

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Exposed peat - erosion problem

Re-profiling peat hags

Peat hag re-profiling before and after

Re-profiled peat hags

Re-profiled peat hags

Collecting moss for "seeding" bare peat

Softrak handling cut moss for spreading on bare peat

Softrak spreading moss on bare peat ("seeding")

Borrowdale Moss wildlife - Field Vole (Microtus agrestis)

Borrowdale Moss wildlife - Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district North West River basin Lune Subcatchment River name Borrow Beck Area category 10 - 100 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category 500 - 1000 m Maximum altitude (m) 622622 m <br />0.622 km <br />62,200 cm <br /> Dominant geology Siliceous Ecoregion Great Britain Dominant land cover Acid Grassland Waterbody ID GB112072071770 Site Edit site Name Borrowdale Moss WFD water body codes GB112072071770, GB112073071430 WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Borrow Beck, River Sprint Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body No National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present No Invasive species present No Species of interest Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) Project started 2012/07/30 Works started 2012/07/30 Works completed Project completed 2015/03/31 Total cost category 100 - 500 k€ Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Diffuse pollution Hydromorphology Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Channel reprofiling Floodplain / River corridor Grip blocking, Revegetation Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents RRC Monitoring form - Borrowdale Moss Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Report of project up to June 2014 Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwdeIRfNziw#t=17 Cumbria Wildlife Trust promotional video of works on Borrowdale Moss (Forest Hall) Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information