In the South Wales uplands above the Rhondda and Afan Valleys, large areas of conifer plantations are slowly being restored to their historic former state as peat bog. The Lost Peatlands Project (Prosiect Adfer Mawndiroedd) is coordinating this massive ecosystem restoration scheme, funded by both National Lottery and public finance.
Under the conifers, the peat still remains, and there are small refuges where sphagnum and associated organisms have held on, while the habitat around them changed from the 1950s/60s onwards.
Far below, at the edge of Swansea, Celtic Wildflowers Ltd processes sphagnum grown at a neighbouring site into clumps, suitable for wider scale habitat restoration after the tree plantations are cut down. This way, the area’s existing genetic diversity and community of associated species can be preserved during the restoration process, which acts as a ‘hard reset’ for the ecosystem.
Ecosulis is collaborating with the Lost Peatlands Project and Celtic Wildflowers Ltd, to restore a parcel of land as part of this larger 250ha project. We have consulted with experts and identifed the optimal strategy for this sensitive habitat restoration. Ecosulis will both advise on, and deliver the project, in addition to providing private funding support.
More information about this project here: [ Ссылка ]
