EUROPEAN environmentalists visited the North Pennines to discover how peatlands are being restored.

The Finnish peat restoration project, Hydrology LIFE, is twinned with Pennine PeatLIFE, and during their four day visit the specialists spent time at Wolfcleugh in Weardale and Valance Lodge in Teesdale. Together with representatives from the environmental network Eurosite, the visitors learnt more about the techniques being used to preserve these important habitats.

The Pennine PeatLIFE team, part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership, demonstrated their innovative work with unmanned aerial vehicles, sphagnum moss cultivation; new computer-modelling techniques; and new approaches to paying for environmental improvements that benefit all society.

Paul Leadbitter, peatland Pprogramme manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be twinned with Hydrology LIFE, as this co-operation ensures that our successes can extend to other projects and peatlands around Europe and the world.”

Tuomas Haapalehto, Metsähallitus Parks and Wildlife Finland project manager said: “Peatlands are major ecosystem types in both the UK and Finland due to similar weather conditions. Unfortunately, both countries have degraded their peatlands.

“Luckily, lots of experience has been accumulated on techniques to recover ecosystems during the last few years. The co-operation between the LIFE projects is a great way to exchange experiences and find the most cost efficient ways to safeguard peatland diversity and the many benefits they provide to people.”

Kristijan ?ivi?, Eurosite network development manager, said: “Eurosite is very happy that we were able to help bring together a group of experts on peatland restoration from all over Europe, under the umbrella of our Twinning programme.”

Peatlands are important habitats that provide multiple ecosystem service benefits: they are home to an array of unique plants and animals; store carbon to help us combat climate change and help filter clean water for us to drink; and can help with natural flood management.

Launched in October, 2017, the £6 million Pennine PeatLIFE project aims to restore a huge 1,300 hectares of bog - space enough for over 1,000 cricket matches to be held all at once.

To find out more, visit northpennines.org.uk/our-work/peatland-programme/