Since October 2025 peatland restoration work has been carried out on the West Pennine Moors close to Winter Hill and in the Goyt Valley at Dovestone.
To complete this transformative work, United Utilities has worked in partnership with Moors for the Future Partnership, Lancashire Peat Partnership, RSPB and Natural England.
The many benefits of peatland restoration
Healthy peatlands provide numerous benefits to both communities and wildlife.
As well as acting like giant natural filtration systems which improve water quality, they support natural flood management by storing more water in the landscape for longer and slowing the flow of rainwater that runs off the hills.
Operationally, it also helps United Utilities to be as resilient as possible – slowing the flow of water to our sewers and reducing stress on local drainage systems.
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Jim Airton, Estates and Land Manager at United Utilities says: “These natural filtration systems not only reduce sediment in the water, which means they are excellent at improving the quality of water that runs off the land into rivers, streams and our reservoirs, they also capture carbon from the atmosphere. “Holding water in the land for longer boosts biodiversity by creating a tapestry of different habitats for plants and wildlife to flourish and makes the land more resilient to dry spells and drought.” “We’re working across our estate, and with partners on a range of biodiversity-enhancing projects ranging from tree planting and peatland restoration to urban rainwater management schemes.” |
United Utilities is spending more than £13bn to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters, whilst safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers.
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