Peat Management and Restoration on our Nature Reserves

The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust has long set out to deliver peatland restoration of soils and priority habitats, addressing the critical climate and nature emergencies and to mitigate the detrimental impacts locally and support delivery on a national scale.

Since 2021 RWT has been part of the National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP), and in 2023-2024 our work is targeted on the restoration of important peatland and associated habitats, wildlife communities, ecosystem resilience and climate benefits.

This continues on from the critical work undertaken in  2021/22 and 2022/23,  expanding our restoration works on mire and bog systems at Pentrosfa Mire, Burfa bog and Llanbwchllyn, supporting carbon capture and regulating water and greenhouse gases, while enhancing biodiversity on these fragile sites.

In 2023-2024 we are restoring peatland soils by controlling scrub encroachment, support ongoing low-density conservation grazing, blocking erosion channels, and improving access for staff, people and livestock to avoid degradation of the highly important habitats. The work will support the sustainable management of peatland habitats through careful and targeted habitat restoration, managing encroaching scrub to maintain peat soils and habitat communities, and low density grazing to enhance and provide rich environment for varied wildlife.

­Burfa Bog

Through NPAP, extensive repairs have been completed on the fencing at Burfa Bog, enabling the reintroduction of grazing cattle. The site requires extensive cattle grazing to maintain the peatland soils, preventing succession to scrub and woodland and stopping them from drying out. The purchase of Nofence collars through the project will also enable targeted and sustainable grazing.

Llanbwchllyn Lake

Willow scrub has been increasing in the fen meadows at Llanbwchllyn over several decades. An area of 0.25 hectares was cleared with Peatland Restoration funding in February 2023. By continuing this willow clearance work, we are halting the encroachment on the fen. Large grazing herbivores, as well as volunteer work parties, will manage the remaining scrub sustainably in the future, ensuring species such as Marsh Orchid, Devil's-bit Scabious and Sesser Skullcap continue to thrive.

Mynydd Ffoesidoes

In December 2023, old drainage ditches at Mynydd Ffoesidoes were blocked. This intervention will slow the release of rainfall from the site, therefore tackling the erosive forces that have caused the ditches to worsen. These ditches were blocked utilising peat dug from the drainage channel, creating valuable ephemeral open water habitat.

Future Works

Over the coming year, the National Peat action programme will fund further clearance of scrub to ensure the peat soils at Pentrosfa Mire, Burfa Bog and Llanbwchllyn Lake remain biodiverse and keep carbon locked up. Boardwalks at Pentrosfa and Burfa will also be repaired, making it easier for visitors to visit, enjoy and learn about the site.