Restoring peat from the ground upwards

Conservefor delivers practical peatland restoration works across upland and lowland peat systems, focusing on stabilising degraded peat, restoring natural hydrology and creating the conditions for long-term ecological recovery.

Our work is led by Managing Director Gareth Evans who comes with over 34 years’ practical experience restoring peatlands.  Gareth started his career in nature conservation at the Yorkshire Dales National Park (YDNP) and worked on the UK’s first ever Peatland project in 1991.

Peatland restoration is rarely a single intervention. Successful outcomes depend on sequencing, material choice and an understanding of how water, vegetation and peat structure interact over time. Our approach reflects this, combining reprofiling, erosion control and re-vegetation into integrated restoration packages.

Talk to us about your peatland restoration project

If you are planning a peatland restoration project and require an experienced contractor to deliver practical, site-led solutions, we would be pleased to discuss your requirements.

OUR PEATLAND RESTORATION SERVICES

  • Peat Translocation

    Sensitive translocation of the acrotelm and catotelm layers of peat from donor site to the receptor site.

  • Grip Blocking

    Installation of peat dams to block manmade drainage channels across peatlands to enable re-wetting of blanket bog.

  • Gully Reprofiling and Blocking

    Stabilisation and re-vegetation of the eroding gully drip edge and blocking channel with stone dams, plastic piles or peat dams.

  • Brash Spreading

    Source suitable donor sites, gain consent, cut & supply and application of double chopped heather brash.

  • Sphagnum Harvesting and Inoculation

    Source suitable donor sites, gain consent, harvest identified bog forming sphagnum species, transport & plant.

  • Plug Planting

    Supply, delivery and hand planting of various species of peatland plug plants eg Empetrum nigrum (Crowberry) & Eriophorum angustifolium (Common cotton Grass).

  • Native seeding and fertilizer application

    Supply and application of lime, moorland seed mixture & fertilizer to encourage recolonization of bare peat.

  • Heather Bales

    Source suitable donor sites (disease & pest free), gain Natural England & land owner consent, cut, bale, supply and installation.

  • Coir + Geo-Textile Erosion Control

    As part of our peatland restoration works, we supply and install coir logs and geo-textile matting to stabilise re-profiled peat hags, protect gully drip-edges and secure areas of exposed peat. Installation, fixing methods and layouts are carefully selected to suit site exposure, slope and moisture conditions. These biodegradable materials support moisture retention and early vegetation establishment.

  • Advice + Consultancy

    With over 34 years experience in Peatland restoration we are well trust within the industry to offer peatland consultancy and nature based advice solutions.