Peatland restoration project sees thousands of dams introduced on United Utilities’ land at Winter Hill
Thousands of crescent-shaped dams have been created on Winter Hill as part of a project to restore peatland, ‘slow the flow’ of water, and boost climate resilience.
Around 4,000 dams have been installed across an area the size of around 550 football pitches to rewet and restore blanket bog habitat across the site of special scientific interest.
The site is part of United Utilities’ Rivington catchment area. Work was funded by the water company and has been delivered in partnership with Lancashire Peat Partnership on land that was affected by wildfire in 2018.
The dams are designed to hold back water and slow the flow of rainwater that runs of the hill into watercourses below. Blanket bog, or peatlands, act like giant natural filtration systems which trap sediment and reducing erosion.
Other wider benefits include increased carbon capture and biodiversity, improved upland habitats and increased resilience to wildfire.
Despite the hot summer, the dams continued to retain water and new vegetation is thriving. Birds including curlews and lapwings, which had previously been absent from the area, have returned, alongside a notable increase in insects including dragonflies and grasshoppers.
Pete Wilson, Catchment Partnership Officer at United Utilities said: “Healthy peatlands provide numerous benefits for our customers and the environment of the North West.
“As well as storing carbon from the atmosphere, these natural filtration systems reduce sediment in the water which means they are excellent at improving the quality of water that runs off the land into rivers, streams and our reservoirs.
“Holding water in the land for longer also boosts biodiversity by creating a tapestry of different habitats for plants and wildlife to flourish and makes the land more resilient to dry spells and drought.
“The restoration is an ongoing project but even at this early stage it is encouraging to see how well this project is developing both in terms of the emerging new vegetation and the water retention.”
Alex Hubberstey, Lancashire Peat Partnership manager from Lancashire Wildlife Trust added: “We’ve seen some devastating fires across the North West this summer, which have echoed the huge blaze seen on Winter Hill in 2018. Rewetting these peatlands is the first step in a process to create a more resilient landscape, along with other techniques like removing fuel load through cutting excess vegetation.”
The team has already seen an increases in the number of birds on Winter Hill who have been choosing to nest alongside the dams which provide fresh water, a food source, and protection from predators.”
United Utilities has pledged to continue restoring peatland habitats across the North West, building on the 3,000 hectares delivered since 2020 to include an additional 4,000 hectares by 2030.
Across its estate, the company is working with partners on a range of biodiversity-enhancing projects ranging from tree planting and peatland restoration to urban rainwater management schemes.
It is spending more than £13bn to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters whilst safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers.