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Written question asked by Phil Brickell (Labour) on Friday, 2 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 May 2025. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Peatlands: Pennines

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help encourage peatland restoration on the West Pennine Moors.

Answer

The Government recognises the importance of England’s peatlands, and in our manifesto, we committed to expanding nature-rich habitats such as peatlands. This will contribute to ensuring nature’s recovery, one of Defra’s five priorities. We have ambitions to restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of peatlands across the country, and we are working to ensure that we have the most effective mechanisms in place to go further than we have before.

Peatland restoration works across England are carried out by local peatland partnerships, such as Lancashire Peat Partnership who are responsible for managing the peatlands in the West Pennine Moors. Peatland restoration is currently funded via the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, and going forwards will be primarily funded through Environmental Land Management schemes, such as the Landscape Recovery and Countryside Stewardship schemes.

Private finance will also be vital if we are to meet our peatland restoration ambitions. To support peatland restoration, the Government is implementing a range of policies that will mobilise private investment. These include working with the IUCN to attract investment through the Peatland Code.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
49987
Session
2024-26
Related items
Peatlands
Tuesday, 9 September 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Repairs and maintenance Peatlands Pennines
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk