Northumberland Peat Partnership

NPP habitat surveying team on The Cheviot, November 2022

NPP habitat surveying team on The Cheviot, November 2022.

Northumberland Peat Partnership

Northumberland Peat Partnership logo web small

It is estimated that within the NPP area, which extends north of the A69 to the Scottish border, there are 142,726 ha. of peat bog. Of these, any greater than 60cm are designated as ‘deep peat’. They may well exceed 7 metres in depth and are storing millions of tons of carbon dating back some 10,000 years or more. Working to repair and conserve peatlands keeps that carbon in the ground and not in the atmosphere.

Degraded peat mires lose carbon through oxidation whereas restored mires act as ‘carbon sinks’, through photosynthesis. The Northumberland Peat Partnership (NPP) works to draw down finance to survey, manage and restore damaged peatlands in Northumberland in conjunction with our partners and landowners working in the North of England. 

We evaluate the peatland resource within the Partnership Area by mapping and assessing its ecological composition and condition using satellite imaging, LIDAR data, drone footage and ground-truthing. We will shortly be using Ground Penetrating Radar as well to assist in calculating the below-ground volume of peat.

Restored peat mires provide many benefits including:

  • Increased biodiversity
  • Improved carbon storage
  • Flood risk management and erosion control
  • Improved water quality
  • Preserved archaeological records
  • Fire risk management
  • Potential Carbon Credit finance under the Peatland Code

 

Find out lots more about what we do by clicking the links below:

Northumberland Peat Partnership Story

This will give you a real flavour of what we do and is updated regularly

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Northumberland Peat Partnership area map

Aims and Objectives

The partnership aims to:

  • Promote peatland restoration and sustainable management to support the benefits that peat delivers for biodiversity, carbon management, flood risk management, erosion control, water quality, securing an archaeological record, fire risk management, landscape quality, natural beauty and recreation.
  • Evaluate the peatland resource within the Partnership Area by mapping and assessing its ecological composition and condition; and the opportunities to enhance and support ecological connectivity.
  • Evaluate the peatland resource within the Partnership Area by mapping and assessing its carbon content, carbon flow dynamics; and establishing the current and potential role it has in meeting the UK’s commitment to reach net-zero by 2050.
  • Develop a prioritised list of costed peatland restoration plans to secure future funding to support implementation.
  • Seek and secure funding for peatland monitoring projects across upland Northumberland, developing an overarching approach to build knowledge on how management and restoration actions impact on the ability of peat habitats to deliver wider benefits
  • Share relevant data, best practice and understanding of sustainable management techniques to support well-functioning peat habitats across the land management sector and contractor community.
  • Work in partnership with organisations interested in peatland conservation, including the ICUN UK Peatland Programme to share knowledge and research findings, and to promote the value to society of well-functioning peatland habitats.

Case Studies

Our member organisations have a track record in delivering high quality peatland research and restoration works. Examples of these include:

Membership

Membership is open to all those who support the aims and objectives of the partnership. If you wish to enquire about joining the partnership, then please contact Northumberland Wildlife Trust (mail@northwt.org.uk).
 

Current Members

Peat Partnership current members