Two-week effort rescues important spring mires on Dartmoor - Harford and Ugborough Moors

The actions of a community task force, of farmers, artists, specialists and land owners, have successfully restored two important spring mires on Dartmoor, say those taking part.

It took over 30 people, from 15 organisations [1], working together, plus a fortnight of practical activity on Harford and Ugborough Moors.

Those involved included a Devon based artist collective Art & Energy, the Commoners' Association, the National Trust and the Dartmoor National Park Authority. Dartmoor Headwaters Project officers were also on hand to help.

It’s part of a long term ambition of the South West Peatland Partnership to re-establish Dartmoor’s globally important bogs and mires. They are at risk of disappearing according to the University of Exeter [2]. And the work is also part of project to secure the future of upland commons, led by the Foundation for Common Land [3].

As Tamsin Thomas, the Our Upland Commons Dartmoor project officer, explains:

“The restoration task was quite complex, and all about reinstating the water table. The peat hags, or cut outs, were reprofiled, bunds were built and flow deflectors installed to spread the water across the mires. Contractors built timber dams in a tin mining gulley and filled in ditches. We also improved stock access to other brooks and natural watering points across the common to reduce pressure points. And sphagnum moss was planted.

“When they function well, spring mires are fabulous habitats for wildlife, provide clean water for livestock and people, deliver natural flood management and lock carbon. Sphagnum moss is a key ingredient in bog building, laying down layers of fresh peat and storing carbon, as it grows.

“But there’s a big task ahead of us if we want to see more of these benefits. The restoration of Dartmoor's peatbogs requires urgent action and a wide range of organisations working together to achieve this.

“So it was good to see so many people involved in this fortnight of work. For the first time ever, there was a practical day of training for commoners and local contractors, on natural flood management and practical peatland restoration techniques. Thanks to specialist Andy Coleman, from Quantock & Exmoor Ltd, Dartmoor Headwaters Team and South West Peatland Partnership. And it was really well received,” adds Tamsin.

Tamsin says it was also important to involve a community group from Plymouth. They got to find out how their local moor, Harford, is managed and by whom and the importance of sphagnum moss for carbon sequestration. Plugs of sphagnum moss, wrapped in felted wool from local sheep, were planted, organised by Art & Energy as part of their project ‘How to Bury the Giant’.

“It was heartening that so many people come together, to care for their local common,” concludes Tamsin. “A job well done and only possible because lots of people with different skills worked together [4].”

Anyone interested in finding out about how Dartmoor Headwaters Project is reducing flood risks to towns by restoring natural processes can visit this web page. https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/wildlife-and-heritage/our-conservation-work/dartmoor-headwaters-project. Details of the Our Upland Commons project in Dartmoor can be found here: https://foundationforcommonland.org.uk/dartmoor And for information about the Art and Energy initiative visit: https://www.artandenergy.org/news/how-to-bury-the-giant-in-harford-moor

Cover image credit: Jim Wileman

Footnotes

[1] Those involved in the restoration fortnight were: Harford and Ugborough Commoners' Association; archaeologist, ranger, ecologist and a natural flood management experts from Dartmoor National Park Authority; Foundation for Common Land through their Our Upland Cause, Our Upland Commons project largely funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund; National Trust; Natural England; Landowners - Clay Factory, Ivybridge and those on Harford Moor and Ugborough Common; Quantock and Exmoor Contractors; Rural Payments Agency; South West Peatland Partnership; Woodland Trust; Zetica, Unexploded Ordinance.

[2] 45% of South West Water’s daily water supply for its customers falls as rain on Dartmoor’s uplands. Research carried out by the University of Exeter found that just 1% of Dartmoor’s peatland area is still intact, healthy peat-forming bog. For more information visit this web page https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/wildlife-and-heritage/our-conservation-work/the-south-west-peatland-project The mires are on common land, some of our most ancient managed landscapes. First enshrined in law in the Magna Carta, and once making up nearly half of Britain, now only 3% of land in England is common land. Despite this is has 21% of all Sites of Scientific Interest, 12% of all Scheduled Ancient Monuments and 40% of all Open Access land. It’s incredibly important open land, with delicate ecosystems, which we can all access and enjoy. Commons give us food and clean water, absorb rainfall, and are home to important wildlife and archaeology.

[3] The Foundation for Common Land provides a single voice to co-ordinate knowledge and share learning across common land. For many years it’s been involved in the design of future Defra farming policies and payment schemes. Our Upland Commons Project is a three-year, £3m, 25-partner project, concluding in summer 2023. https://foundationforcommonland.org.uk/

[4] Examples of some of the experts and tasks involved in the restoration of two mires on Harford and Ugborough Moors:  site visits held with ecologists and peat and natural flood management specialists; negotiations with commoners and landowners over details of work, access and timings; baseline surveys carried out; permissions sought from Rural Payments Agency and Natural England; site access organised for the diggers (it took three hours to get the digger onsite); design of the flood management interventions; risk assessments carried out; vehicle recovery service provided when contractor vehicle got stuck.

Any queries to me please, see below or to Tamsin Thomas via email Tamsin@foundationforcommonland.org.uk

Emma Dewhurst

07964 686682

And here’s us at Ten Stories