Why we’re counting sheep to help restore peat.
Peatland restoration isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It takes a range of innovative techniques and indepth monitoring to make sure that methods to raise the water table and prevent further degradation are as effective as possible. By working in partnership, we’re doing just that on Dartmoor whilst understanding impact, supporting farmers and taking steps to restore vital peatlands.
The peatlands of Exmoor, Dartmoor and Cornwall are of global importance, holding significant amounts of carbon-storing, water-filtering, wildlife-supporting peat in the form of blanket bogs and valley mires. However, over centuries, human activities such as draining the moorland, peat-cutting, tin streaming and reclamation have dried large areas. This has impacted habitats and waterways, with ecological diversity lost and the carbon storage capacity of peatland reduced. This also has a knock-on effect on the traditional grazing of the landscape, with minimal water for livestock found across the landscape other than in streams and rivers, and areas of the ground that crumble underfoot.
By working together, the South West Peatland Partnership is aiming to restore 2,634 hectares of degraded peatlands across the region before 2025. A key feature of the partnership is working closely with farmers and commoners to understand traditional methods of managing the peatlands and how they want to see the landscape shaped over the coming years for the benefit of people, livestock, wildlife and the planet.
Sheep out on Dartmoor wearing tracking collars
In Dartmoor National Park, the Dartmoor Commoners Council is the statutory body responsible for good livestock husbandry on the commons. They know that the future conservation of the area is heavily dependent on the survival of hill farmers and their ability to graze animals. Farmers and commoners have a key role in year-round food production, upholding animal welfare and acting as stewards for nature and the countryside, such as those part of a collaborative approach to restore and champion the vital peatlands, by combining the latest technology with traditional farming practices.
To support this, we’re investing in a range of monitoring methods to survey the peatlands and to better understand how people and livestock interact with areas before, during and after restoration. In a first for peatland restoration in the area, 100 sheep were fitted with Digitanimal GPS-tracking collars before being put out to graze on Dartmoor National Park in early summer 2022. These collars allow the farmer and SWPP monitoring teams to track stock movements in real time over the next few years, identifying how livestock are adapting to the peatland restoration that happens on the ground and gathering insights on how they interact with the changing landscape across the centre of the North Moor.
“‘By tracking the sheep before, during and after restoration we will be better able to understand how the work affects our livestock’s ability to move across the area, so we can ensure the peatland restoration doesn’t create barriers that prevent the grazing that is so important to the management of these areas.”
Data from Digitanimal collars showing sheep in designated areas
Colin added the benefit of this project to assessing the farmer and commoner interactions with the landscape:
“We are also using phones to track how we move across the area, when checking and gathering our sheep, so the restoration team can keep these routes useable by creating wider dams that quadbikes can cross. This means we will still be able to look after our sheep without compromising the benefit of the restoration.’
This monitoring is particularly important with the influence of climate change and the drought conditions seen on the moorland in 2022. Further data will also be collected on access routes for farmers themselves, identifying any changes in traditional patterns of how livestock are gathered or checked on. The restoration team can work with farmers using this data to assess any changes that occur and how methods can be adapted to ensure continual easy access across the area, such as creating bridges and stream crossings.
“‘The knowledge and sensitive relationship that upland farmers have with the land is intrinsic to the long-term success of the peatland restoration ambitions, so working with the farmers to help us monitor these areas is key. ”
Deborah added further of the importance of working alongside farmers in this project:
“Farming in these marginal areas is challenging but these extensive grazing systems are integral to the recovery of peatland, ensuring the survival of wildlife which depends on these habitats whilst supporting carbon & water storage, improving water quality, protecting cultural landscapes and supporting vibrant local communities.”
We’ll bring you further updates from this sheep-tracking project, alongside other monitoring methods in the months ahead. To read more about the approach taken to restoration, please click here.