Plans to restore vital peatland in Wrexham approved

Plans to restore vital peatland in Wrexham have taken to a step forward after receiving the backing of senior councillors.

The land, near Fenns bank and Bronington, contains some areas of peat soils, which are extremely valuable for their carbon sequestration properties

Peat, which is made up of organic carbon that has been trapped in the earth for thousands of years, plays a crucial role in naturally storing carbon.

However it can only lockdown carbon when it is actively growing, and that growth can only take place in healthy habitats. Damaged peatlands will release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

The land is in close proximity to Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve which, with Wem Moss and Cadney Moss, are collectively a Site of Special Scientific Interest forming Britain’s third-largest lowland raised bog.

On Tuesday executive board members unanimously backed proposals which would help to restore the peatland and enhance carbon sequestration through woodland creation with associated nature supporting interventions.

Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for housing, said: “This will support a return to the original carbon storage capabilities of the peat and also provide an opportunity to store more carbon and improve biodiversity through further planting of woodland and hedgerows.

“There are many wider benefits to restoring the peat of this location – delivering our decarbonisation plan, further enhancing the existing Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve, encouraging neighbouring landowners to consider restoration of peatland and the potential for community education and further improvements to the site and increasing access to nature.”

He added: “We declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in September 2019 and lots of work has taken place since then to address the emergency.

“Through this project we can show that we’re putting our decarbonisation plans at the heart of our decision making and really making a difference.”

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council, said: “This is a unique project and one that has the potential to enhance the area whilst taking carbon out of our environment. I’d like to thank those involved in identifying the land and putting forward exciting plans for its restoration.

“The ecological systems it will encourage and support will be huge and Wrexham will be leading the way in Wales when it comes to ground breaking projects to reduce and offset carbon emissions.”

Going forward there could be opportunities to develop the area as a public open space, improve the accessibility of the existing public footpath and enable access to nature, educational activity and learning spaces for local communities.