The government has given £264,000 to explore how peat on Crowle Moors near Scunthorpe can be regenerated and flooding managed.
The money has been given to Reedness and Swinefleet Internal Drainage Board, and the research is expected to extend to Thorne and Goole Moors as well.
The award is part of a series worth a total of £1.3m intended to improve lowland peat soils, Peatlands are our largest terrestrial carbon store, however, as a result of centuries of drainage for agriculture, just 1% of England’s lowland peatlands remain in a near-natural state, and these drained peatlands account for 88% of all greenhouse gas emissions from England’s peat.
The projects will use government funding to improve the management of water on lowland peat and enhance understanding of climate change impacts and flood risk.
Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “I was incredibly encouraged by the number of exciting applications to the Lowland Agriculture Peat – Water Discovery Pilot. They represent a diverse array of applicants, from across the breadth of the lowland peat areas.
“Over the coming year, evidence from these local collaboration pilots will be the first step in understanding costs, benefits and risks from changing water management within lowland agriculture peat soils. The pilots will produce costed water-management plans, which will help us to balance our aims to reduce climate change impacts and flood risk, improve biodiversity and support sustainable agriculture.”
