Only around 20% of the UK’s peatlands remain in a near-natural condition. Degraded peatlands, instead of storing carbon, have become significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. This damage has been driven by a range of human activities over the years, including agricultural drainage, commercial forestry, overgrazing, burning for game and livestock management, peat extraction for horticulture, and fuel cutting.
Peatlands are our largest terrestrial carbon sink, storing carbon in soil. They also reduce flood risk and wildfires and provide vital habitats for a diverse range of wildlife.
Since March 2025, there have been over 30 moorland fires in the Peak District and South Pennines. This project is currently working to restore moorlands adjacent to the M62 and Woodhead Pass corridors, across some 250square kilometres of peatlands of the Dark Peak and South Pennines.
Recovering this habitat by planting sphagnum moss plugs will:
Moors for the Future Partnership has worked together to protect and re-wet the uplands of the Peak District and South Pennines for 22 years, taking them from the most degraded peatland in Europe, with miles and miles of exposed and eroding bare peat releasing carbon into the atmosphere, to a landscape on the trajectory to recovery.
It is essential to continue to restore and maintain our uplands for the multiple benefits that blanket bogs bring, ranging from natural flood management to health and well-being, and their crucial role in tackling climate change.
Follow the latest milestones and updates from this project.
58,600 sphagnum plugs have been planted this year so far, and 23.44 hectares have been restored. This increase in sphagnum cover over the long term will have benefits for the blanket bog's ability to store carbon.
Restoration works were carried out between January and March 2026. The 2025-26 season’s work builds on previous successful work in the Goyt, allowing for next-stage interventions to be implemented, as well as replacing a number of damaged dams following a wildfire in April 2025.
24,400 of the sphagnum plugs were planted by volunteers, with 127 people taking part across seven sessions which supported local people to learn about the importance of peatlands and how to protect them.
The Moors for the Future team have been busy out surveying the damage from a big wildfire up on the Snake Pass in May. Some research sites have been badly damaged, but the sphagnum seems to have survived and is even still green and wet in the middle!
Peatlands represent the largest land-based carbon store on the planet, more than double the amount stored in all the world’s forests. They play a crucial role in both alleviating and combating climate change. In the UK, peatlands cover around 12% of the land area and contain approximately 5.5 billion tonnes of carbon, accounting for over half of the nation's current carbon storage.
This restoration project plays a vital role in supporting nature by restoring damaged peatland habitats through the planting of sphagnum moss plugs. Sphagnum moss is a key component of healthy blanket bogs, and its reintroduction helps combat biodiversity decline by creating suitable conditions for a wide range of native plant and animal species. Restoring the bog’s natural structure also improves its ecological function, slowing water runoff and reducing soil erosion. This not only helps regulate water flow downstream but also strengthens the landscape's resilience to wildfires.
People - The Peak District and South Pennine blanket bog landscape collect and release water into reservoirs that are destined for use by over 19.5 million customers of the 3 water companies. 70% of drinking water starts its journey to the reservoirs from our uplands. From moors in good condition, with a diverse moss flora, this release is of slow, filtered water, reducing the need for water treatment and reducing the risk of flooding. There is also a growing imperative to tackle the problem of storm flow into waste water drainage infrastructure. As well as money generated in association with tourism, the moors are economically important to owners and occupiers. Sheep farming, grouse shooting and forestry all contribute significantly to the wellbeing of the region’s rural and urban communities.
Moors for the Future run a programme of activities which aim to engage with and inform people, both about the issues surrounding degraded moorland habitats, and also the many benefits of healthy, well-functioning bog environments. They organise and attend a range of events (e.g. village shows, community events, University open days) each year.
Healthy peatlands help provide clean, high-quality drinking water, ensuring safer water supplies for communities. By regulating water flow and reducing flood risk, restored peatlands also help protect homes and infrastructure. Cleaner air, reduced wildfire risk, and increased biodiversity further support healthier living environments for local citizens.
These landscapes are vital source catchments for drinking water, supplying over a quarter of the UK’s fresh water. Healthy peatlands act as natural filters, improving water quality by reducing the amount of sediment and dissolved organic carbon entering watercourses. By restoring sphagnum moss and improving bog condition, the project helps to regulate water flows.
Local volunteers are involved in the project throughout its delivery.
Restored blanket bogs are more resilient to climate change, reducing emissions, and sequester carbon when in good condition.
Restoring blanket bogs halts degradation and increases biodiversity. As the ecosystem recovers, biodiversity increases, soil health improves, and the land becomes more resilient to environmental pressures, ensuring the long-term protection and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
These partners help deliver the project and verify its impact.
Moors for the Future Partnership was founded in 2003 with a single Heritage Lottery Fund project. They deliver a landscape scale programme of blanket bog restoration across the Peak District and South Pennine moors. They have transformed over 35 sq km of degraded peat, the most degraded landscape in Europe.
