New fire rangers will patrol a popular moorland beauty spot together with 'fire watch volunteers' to guard against devastating wildfires this summer, a charity has announced.
The development was confirmed as the RSPB announced an ancient peat bog at Dove Stone nature reserve in Saddleworth, Oldham, will be restored in a £1.6 million project which will help tackle climate change. It comes after a huge blaze ripped through a site near Dove Stone Reservoir last month - destroying a massive area of new woodland which was planted by local volunteers and scorching land the size of around two and a half football pitches.
It was the latest in a series of fires on Saddleworth Moor - and on moorland across Greater Manchester - with fire crews regularly called out to extinguish wildfires often started by people using barbecues or by discarding waste.
The RSPB said two new seasonal fire rangers would be hired to patrol the nature reserve and surrounding Longdendale Valley. They would be a 'visible, on-the-ground presence' to educate visitors about barbeques and campfires, remove litter and report any issues to emergency services, the charity added, with fire watch volunteers also recruited to assist wardens and act as an 'early warning system' in the event of fires breaking out.
Damaged peatlands are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming. The 941 hectare peat bog at Dove Stone is capable of absorbing huge amounts of air polluting carbon as a vital resource in helping to reduce the impact of climate change.
But the RSPB said it has suffered over the last 200 years from acid rain and pollution, meaning the habitat-rich bog has eroded and is drying out, causing it to release carbon into the atmosphere rather than storing it. The funding - £1.2m from Natural England's Nature for Climate Peatland Capital Grant Scheme and a further £400,000 from landowner United Utilities - aims to start reversing the damage.
It's hoped to encourage more wildlife by returning it to an 'active blanket bog', a transition which would also contribute to improving water quality. More than 10,000 peat dams will be created to keep water in the bog - vital to prevent dead plants decomposing as dead plant matter eventually turns into new peat and stores carbon.
More than half a million sphagnum moss plugs will also be planted and 1,000 stone dams created to reduce water loss and allow the moss to grow. The sphagnum plants should colonise the pools and create a carpet of moss on the moor, over time restoring the important peat soils beneath and returning the land to its full potential as a tool for tackling climate change as peat retains carbon once again.
Kate Hanley, RSPB Dove Stone site manager, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Natural England and United Utilities for this funding which will help us continue the restoration journey of this amazing site.
"Restoration of blanket bog is vital to help fight the nature and climate emergency. Not only does this unique habitat provide a home for a range of birds and wildlife, it is essential for capturing carbon and storing water. The time is now to ensure our blanket bogs are in the best possible condition for the sake of birds, water, wildlife and people."
Ed Lawrance, Catchment Partnership Officer for United Utilities said: "As landowners of the site, we are pleased to be working with RSPB on such a significant conservation project. Dove Stone is such a special location for local visitors and wildlife and this project will go a long way to help preserve the habitat. As well as helping to tackle climate change, the restoration will help improve water quality and in the long-term help with natural flood management in the area.
"We have a great partnership with RSPB and we look forward to working closely with them on this project and seeing the peat bog gradually flourish and spring back to life.”
