Photo:Harkey Lodger/WikimediaA major project to restore hundreds of square miles of England's finest hill country was given the go-ahead.Most of north-west England's drinking water is sourced from the hills, lakes and rivers of its uplands. Over the centuries some of these beautiful upland landscapes like the Lake District and the Pennines have suffered from the intensive burning of moorlands, over grazing and the drainage of blanket bogs. This means more impurities and sediment are getting into the water as it flows from these hills.
The announcement is of a five year project worth more than GBP10million run by water company United Utilities and supported by the RSPB and the National Trust.
There will be four schemes in the Lake District, Lancashire Pennines and on Kinder Scout and Longdendale in the Peak District which will protect water sources and provide a boost for wildlife.
"This project marks a historic change in the way we care for our water," said Rob Cunningham, Head of Water Policy at the RSPB. "Rather than deal with the problem of deteriorating water quality by using more chemicals, more energy and building bigger treatment works, problems will be tackled at their source - restoring these uplands so that the water that runs off them into reservoirs and rivers, is clearer, cleaner and requires less costly treatment."
Mike Innerdale of the National Trust General Manager in the Peak District said, "We warmly welcome this change in policy and approach which will provide many benefits for people and wildlife. Restoring uplands not only improves water quality but will also help lock up carbon stored in peat, helping fight climate change.
"We look forward to helping deliver this fantastic project which will do so much for the much cherished landscapes and wildlife of northwest England."
The project will see bare and eroded bogs brought to life by blocking damaging drains and re-vegetating areas of bare peat. Thousands of trees will be planted in steep valleys, livestock numbers will be reduced and farm buildings repaired. Wildlife will return and flourish, and in securing environmental payments, the schemes will help protect the livelihoods of hard-pressed upland farmers and boost the rural economy.
This project is just one of more than a hundred 'catchment management schemes' given the green light by the water regulator, Ofwat, in their final price determinations announced.
