An environmental initiative is underway in Yorkshire, utilizing rare moss species to combat climate change. The extinct bog moss, Sphagnum, is being reintroduced onto moorlands because this plant possesses the capacity to retain water weighing over twenty times its own mass. This characteristic facilitates the formation of peat bogs, where deceased vegetation accumulates rather than decomposing, effectively sequestering carbon within the soil.
Presently, two ecosystem restoration efforts are active: one situated in the Yorkshire Dales and another on Marsden Moor near Huddersfield. Experts anticipate that the mosses’ return will not only improve the climatic outlook but also establish varied habitats for wildlife. At Kingsdale Head farm in Ingleton, specialists from the “Yorkshire Peat Partnership” are planting Sphagnum austinii, a rare type of moss that vanished from this area centuries ago.
Beth Thomas, the Data and Evidence Manager, attributes the disappearance of Sphagnum austinii from the Dales to land drainage and industrial operations. Analyses of peat cores, estimated to be around 6,000 years old, revealed that this specific moss species was predominant here following the last glacial period. Since the plant is vital for peat formation, its reintroduction is deemed a strategic priority.
The expert emphasized the significance of this undertaking: “This is so important for carbon storage, for mitigating floods, for cleaning our water, and also for our wildlife and the people who use these places and want to enjoy their wildness.” Samples of Sphagnum austinii were specifically transported from Scotland, where the species remains extant, to the Yorkshire Dales. Before planting them in the bogs, the moss is propagated in local nurseries.
Each transplanted specimen is logged using GPS trackers, allowing specialists to maintain precise survival rate surveillance. At Kingsdale Head farm, peat bogs cover two-thirds of the 610-hectare property. Farm Manager Jamie McEwan mentioned that they are already observing “really good results” from the landscape restoration work, although the full impact will only be apparent over the long term.
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