£1m project to improve Goyt Valley habitats and cut moorland fire and flooding risk

A £1million conservation project will improve nature and wildlife habitats in the Goyt Valley and reduce the risk of moorland fires.
Goyt Valley, one of the South Pennines most dramatic landscapes.Goyt Valley, one of the South Pennines most dramatic landscapes.
Goyt Valley, one of the South Pennines most dramatic landscapes.

Landowners, farmers and gamekeepers have committed to the ten-year plan which includes restoring 1,000 hectares of peatland to curb the threat of blazes and flooding.

Ross Evans, of United Utilities, the north-west’s water company and a major landowner which secured the funding from the Rural Payments Agency , said re-wetting upland blanket bog would slow rain flowing down hillsides which would be better for habitats, rivers and water quality.

Ross said: “Most of the hard work will take place in the first few years including fencing to promote sustainable livestock grazing, installing blocks into grips and gullies to improve the water table, and planting large areas of sphagnum moss so that the ground absorbs water and stays wet.

“This has benefits not just for biodiversity and carbon storage, it also improves the quality of water in our two Goyt Valley reservoirs, Errwood and Fernilee.

The upland landscape of the Goyt Valley is part of the Peak District National Park and a site of special scientific interest because of habitats including blanket bog and dry heath, and nationally important breeding populations of birds like merlin, golden plover and short-eared owl.

Ross said: “The scheme is a true partnership project with farm and shoot tenants, local authorities and Natural England coming together to deliver multiple and wide ranging benefits, including making it more accessible to the public and school groups who can learn about its fascinating history.

“The Goyt Valley was once a thriving coal mining area and a lot of mining archaeology is still there in the landscape. We’ll be taking steps to conserve these features and providing new access furniture and interpretation boards to help people get even more from their visit to this spectacular area. One of the tenant farmers will be developing school educational visits.”

A spokesperson for Natural England said: “Habitat restoration work across significant areas of blanket bog will be carried out through the scheme, helping to improve the long-term health and condition of these important peatlands.”