UK Wildlife

UK Peatland Restoration and Wildlife Welfare

UK peatlands store vast quantities of carbon and support unique wildlife communities, with restoration of degraded peat bogs improving conditions for specialist species and sequestering greenhouse gases.

Key Facts

UK has 13% of the world's blanket bog, mostly in poor condition due to drainage and burning
Peatlands support golden plover, dunlin, curlew, hen harrier and many other species
Restoration involves blocking drains and stopping burning, allowing sphagnum moss recovery
RSPB Flow Country reserve in Scotland is Europe's largest peatland restoration project
Peatland restoration provides multiple benefits: carbon storage, water quality, flooding reduction

Welfare Considerations

Peatland restoration benefits wildlife welfare by restoring breeding habitat for upland birds and supporting invertebrate communities. The carbon storage benefits also reduce long-term climate impacts on animal welfare globally. This is a rare genuinely win-win conservation intervention.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Wildlife Trust peatland restoration programmes
Advocate for public funding for peatland restoration as both climate and welfare investment
Avoid buying peat compost to reduce demand for peat extraction