Conservationists are pouring £1.6m into restoring a historic peat bog - hoping to save the annual emissions of over 130,000 cars from being released into the atmosphere in the process.
The ancient peat bog in the RSPB site at Dovestone, Oldham, is on the brink of collapse after 200 years of acid rain and pollution eroded the site, leaving it to dry out and start releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Peat bogs are a key resource in fighting climate change, with the sites able to store huge amounts of carbon, taking pollution out of the environment and improving air quality.
The 941 hectare bog at Dovestone is an important habitat for local wildlife too, making it a vital part of the ecosystem in the area. However, without urgent action, the bog is set to dry up and ruin the landscape - destroying the home of hundreds of creatures and releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
