Restoring eroded peatlands reduces flood risk for communities downstream - University of Manchester

Scientists from The University of Manchester, The University of Aberdeen and Newcastle University have found that the restoration of upland peatlands is a highly effective strategy for reducing downstream flooding.

New modelling approaches combined with long-term data collection on the peatlands of Kinder Scout where restoration work has taken place have allowed the experts to demonstrate that meaningful flood protection can be delivered during large storms, and has the potential to offer significant protection to communities at risk of flooding in locations where traditional hard engineering may not be economically viable.
The model was built using data from a field experiment conducted with Moors for the Future Partnership looking at the impact of restoration on runoff on Kinder Scout in the south Pennines. In 2022, the Kinder Scout National Nature reserve managed by National Trust was extended – partly in recognition of the importance of the scientific research that was taking place there. The new findings further emphasise the value of controlled long-term landscape experiments in understanding the impact of peatland restoration work.
Using new methods of modelling flood levels in the town of Glossop, which lies below the moorland peaks of Bleaklow and Kinder Scout in the Peak District, the team have demonstrated that fully restoring 41% of the upstream catchment via re-vegetation, gully blocking and sphagnum planting makes it more than 90% likely that the magnitude of a 100-year flood event would be reduced by more than 20%. If only 20% of the catchment is restored, they found that this would be 66% likely to reduce it by 10%.