Peatlands improve the quality of our water (70% of drinking water comes from areas dominated by peatland), help prevent floods, and are home to wonderful birds and other wildlife, from skydancing Hen Harriers, to hares and even insect-eating sundew plants. They also lock away carbon, so benefit the environment. Peatland covers just 3% of the planet, yet it stores more carbon than all the world’s forests. They’re also wonderful wild places to enjoy.
But they’re in trouble. In the UK, around 80% of these wet, boggy landscapes are damaged or deteriorating. This damage threatens the amazing peatland wildlife, reduces the quality of our water, and increases the risk of flooding. It also causes the stored carbon to be released back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. We’re working to stop that.