Peatlands in the broads:
Healthy peatlands are a haven for wildlife, they store carbon in their soils as well as cleaning and storing water in the landscape. The Broads contains a significant amount of England’s lowland peatlands, however approximately one quarter of them are drained for agriculture. When peat is drained, it is exposed to oxygen allowing microbes to break down organic material and convert it into greenhouse gases, such as CO2. It is estimated that around one million tonnes of carbon has been lost in from drained peatlands in Broads in the past 40 years alone. Therefore, supporting farmers and landowners to change the way they manage their peat soils is a key part of the UK’s strategy for addressing climate change.
In 2024, Norfolk FWAG assisted Chestnut Farm, Hardley in securing the first live Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement with option SW18 Raise Water Levels on Permanent Grassland on Lowland Peat soils.
Project background:
Chestnut Farm is a mixed farm on the south side of the Yare Valley, which has around 43 ha of grazing marshes that have been predominately managed for breeding and wintering waders and species rich grassland, alongside agricultural grazing.
The process started in January 2023 when planning for a new CS scheme. The farm was keen to look at new ways of managing and protecting their lowland peat alongside their farming operations. The marshes close to the valley edge are known to be on deep peat and have pockets of species-rich vegetation that is characteristic of lowland fen. It was these marshes that became the focus of the new scheme.
Application process:
The first step was to understand the existing hydrology, geology, and ecology of the site and whether raised water tables could be achieved. Norfolk FWAG started the process by applying for a PA2 feasibility study grant and writing a detailed specification for the study with Natural England, which included peat coring, ecological surveys, topographic levelling, hydrological surveys and more. The study, which was completed by Hummingbird, found peat deposits of over 7m in depth! It also identified a scenario for raising water tables to 10-30cm below the mean field surface by installing a series of simple water control structures such as dams, sluices and solar pumps.
Next, Norfolk FWAG applied for a PA1 implementation plan grant to commission a detailed design that could be used to define costs of the work and secure consents and permissions. We also engaged a local water vole ecologist from MHE consulting, who helped us obtain a water vole license and oversee the water vole mitigation works.
Once the design had been finalised and consents were in place, we applied for an FM2 Major Preparatory Works grant to fund the implementation phase. Works were completed in November 2024 and the new system is up now and running.
Monitoring:
Throughout the project we have worked closely with Broads Authority and UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) as part of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot. In spring 2024, prior to the implementation of the new scheme, UKCEH installed two cutting edge peat level cameras and gas flux towers, which will measure changes in the water levels and greenhouse gas emissions. The data collected will help monitor the outcomes of the project and build our understanding of how changes in the way we manage agricultural peatlands can help address the climate emergency.
Outcomes:
This project is an excellent test case for DEFRA’s new lowland peat options and is providing vital learning for policy makers, local practitioners and other landowners who are considering going down the same route. As well as the benefits of reducing carbon emissions from the peat, it is hoped that the wetter summer conditions on the marsh will provide benefits for biodiversity by increasing the extent of fen vegetation alongside the neighbouring Poplar Farm Meadows SSSI.
To see the project for yourself, check out this short video:
