Tuesday 15 May 2018

UK sinks £10m into bogs

New government funding is to help restore 10,000 football pitches worth of iconic peatland areas in England to protect wildlife and reduce carbon emissions.

More than 6,500 hectares of peatlands in the Peak District, Yorkshire, Shropshire and the South West will be restored, which will help store an estimated 23,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

The £10 million investment delivers on commitments made as part of the government’s flagship 25-Year Environment Plan.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “Peatlands are an iconic aspect of the English landscape which are not only a haven for wildlife but also provide us with clean water and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“The 25-Year Environment Plan sets out the government’s commitment to improve peatlands and grant schemes such as this one will enable us to leave our environment better than we inherited it.”