Cumbria Wildlife Trust given permission to restore ecosystem

The planning application was submitted by Cumbria Wildlife Trust to the local authority for the project at Solway And Duddon Mosses, Anthorn to Whitrigg.

The work will create a network of cell bunding to retain water and 're-wet' the surface, blocking drainage ditches and clearing scrub that dries the peat.

Committee members considered the plans at a meeting at the Copeland Centre in Whitehaven on Wednesday (July 17).

Planning officer Kerry Bamford told members that the project would involve the clearing of shrubs and the site covers a total area of 171 hectares.

Overview of the site (Image: Cumbria Wildlife Trust)

David Harpley, from the trust, told councillors the area was the best lowland peat lands in England and the proposed bunds would vanish once they were overgrown.

Ian Hutchinson, from Bowness on Solway parish council which opposed the application, said there were issues with previous schemes, with a depletion of plant life, and added: "We are taking away a diverse range of species. What else are we taking away?"

Planning officer Alison Williams said the proposal was for the restoration of the bog and it would "overall improve the bog habitat".

Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) asked how the proposed monitoring rods would work and Ms Williams said they would collect a "long term data set of information" which would check the success of the project.

Location map of the site (Image: Cumbria Wildlife Trust)

Mr Harpley said they were relatively simple and consisted of a metal rod with a disc. He added: "If it's working, the disc disappears."

Cllr Dobson proposed they approve the application and councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) said he knew the area and it had been farm for at least 50 years.

He added: "It's going back to its original state. I'd like to support Cllr Dobson and second the motion."

However, councillor Tony Markley (Solway Coast, Conservative) said he was concerned that objections had been made by local residents and they had to make a decision about something that concerned them. He added: "They live there and they are the ones that know what's going on."

Cllr Mallinson said: "If we hand something back to nature, nature has a way of dealing with it."

When the application was put to the vote, members agreed with the officer's recommendation to approve it subject to a number of conditions.

Plans to restore a raised bog ecosystem near Kirkbride submitted to Cumberland Council. (Image: Cumbria Wildlife Trust)

According to the planning application, the site on Bowness Common, surrounding the Rogersceugh , is currently in poor condition due to historic land management practices.

The site is currently owned by Natural England and the RSPB and as such is managed to maximise the benefits to nature.

The restoration objectives include:

• To install deep trench cell bunding across approximately 16ha of Rogersceugh, part of Bowness Common SSSI;
• Install 52 peat and dams to block a large and active drainage ditch;
• Remove approximately 11ha of low density natural regrowth of trees/shrubs;
• Remove and dispose of approximately 1200m of fencing to allow for construction of above restoration features;
• Install 1200m stock proof fencing to protect restoration work.

The report states: "All peatland restoration designs are based around the principle of restoring the hydrology of the underlying peat, from before interventions by humans to dry out peatland, or cutting for fuel and horticulture.

"As such the goal is prevent or reduce the water loss from the peat through blocking the water loss from the peat caused by drainage, cutting or drying peat.

"The blocking of drains and deep trench cell bunding is an effective method for doing this. The clearance of naturally regenerating scrub on, and as a result of, drying peat further contributes to reducing water loss from the peat."