Pennine rivers set to benefit from landowners letting go of their grip

[Editor]

Moorland drains called grips, introduced to improve sheep grazing, have changed the water flow regimes in upland areas to the detriment of the rivers that drain off them and at the cost of Moorland wildlife habitat. Before grips, the upland moors acted as great sponges – releasing water gradually into the river courses.

Grips have not helped the rivers like the South Tyne and Wear which drain the peat bogs and grouse moors of the northern Pennines. These have become super-spate rivers where dirty floods can flash down the river carrying all before them and then, following a drought, long stretches of stream river beds are completely dry. There is light at the end of the tunnel however as a million pound project is underway – filling in the grips!

The North Pennines AONB Partnership has launched the Peatscapes special project which has set a target to block 1000 km of moorland grips by 2012. At an estimated cost of £1 million, this will hydrologically restore over 4000 hectares of blanket bog and improve river flows.

Here is a short film to explain more:

YouTube - Peatscapes - June 2009

YouTube - Peatscapes - June 2009

We say, keep up the good work -- not get a grip!