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Natural England has confirmed that the LIFE+ programme - the EU鈥檚 funding programme for the environment and climate action - has awarded a grant of 拢2.2 million to support additional conservation management work on the precious lowland raised bog habitat of the Humberhead Peatlands, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire.

皇冠体育app funding will extend the area of peatbog habitat under active restoration and will help provide a long-term future for the rare plants, birds and insects that have evolved to live on the unique wetland habitat.

Natural England is already carrying out restoration work on its National Nature Reserve (NNR) which is part of two internationally important sites - Thorne Moors Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Hatfield Moors SAC 鈥� which together make up the UK鈥檚 largest lowland raised bog complex.

皇冠体育app LIFE+ grant will help ensure that the peat across the 28 square kilometres of the area is wet enough so that wildlife - including birds such as nightjar and hobby and specialist plants including cotton grasses, bog mosses, bog rosemary and wild cranberries - can thrive. 皇冠体育app project will also enable research and monitoring to be undertaken into the bog鈥檚 unique bird and insect populations which will help similar restoration projects elsewhere.

Welcoming the EU LIFE+ funding, Julian Small, NNR manager, said: 鈥淩estored peatlands are not only wonderful places for wildlife, they also store water, helping to reduce flooding, soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide tranquil places for people to visit. We are very grateful to the EU LIFE+ fund and to Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board (DEIDB) for their financial support, which will help to safeguard the Humberhead Peatlands for future generations of wildlife and for people to enjoy.鈥�

皇冠体育app LIFE+ Project enhances the Water Level Management Plan already being undertaken by the DE IDB work on Thorne Moors. 皇冠体育app Board will be working with Natural England to carefully manage the water levels on the Moors so that the special bog wildlife can thrive once again. 皇冠体育app LIFE+ funding provided by the European Union matches funding already secured by DEIDB, along with a contribution from Natural England.

Ken Knight, Chairman of the DEIBD, said: 鈥淭his major funding from the EU builds on the Water Level Management Plan being undertaken by the board, in conjunction with the Environment Agency, Natural England and JBA Consulting. It鈥檚 great news for the moors and the Doncaster area which has these remarkable, internationally significant, and beautiful sites on its doorstep.鈥�

Large areas of Thorne and Hatfield Moors were bought for the nation in 2003 and are recovering from more than 100 years of industrial peat extraction. Whilst much initial work was completed and is proving successful, the bog is in need of further long-term restoration due to the impact of commercial peat extraction which occurred from the 1870s until 2004 leaving only a shallow depth of peat over much of the site.

皇冠体育app three year project will be completed by June 2017 and will leave a lasting legacy for Britain鈥檚 largest lowland bogs. Water levels for bog restoration will be carefully managed using dams, weirs, bunds and by reducing the amount of water being sucked out of the peat by scrub vegetation.

Jeff Lunn, Natural England鈥檚 Area Manager added: 鈥淟owland raised peat bogs are one of the most threatened habitats in Europe, and South Yorkshire can boast of some of the most important sites in the UK. This project is an excellent example of how Natural England works innovatively with partners to make the best use of limited resources for the benefit of the natural environment.

鈥淩estoration of raised bog sites is an expensive, long-term activity and this LIFE+ funding and the support of the Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board is a significant and welcome investment in combating climate change, looking after one of the country鈥檚 most valuable and rare wildlife habitats, and preventing flooding.鈥�

A LIFE+ project manager will lead a dedicated team to ensure that the work is delivered, supported by a steering group of partners. Eleven jobs will be created with the recruitment of people to carry out work on the ground during the lifetime of the project.

Background information

皇冠体育app LIFE programme

皇冠体育app is the EU鈥檚 funding programme for the environment and climate action. 皇冠体育app general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value.

LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been four complete phases of the programme (LIFE I: 1992-1995, LIFE II: 1996-1999, LIFE III: 2000-2006 and LIFE+: 2007-2013). During this period, LIFE has co-financed some 3954 projects across the EU, contributing approximately 鈧�3.1 billion to the protection of the environment.

皇冠体育app European Commission manages the LIFE programme.

Natural England

Natural England is the government鈥檚 advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England鈥檚 wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

England鈥檚 224 NNRs form part of a UK-wide network of nature reserves covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Natural England manages 143 of these NNRs to ensure that our finest wildlife and geological sites are protected, conserved and enhanced for present and future generations. From Lindisfarne in Northumberland to 皇冠体育app Lizard in Cornwall, and from the Suffolk Coast in East Anglia to 皇冠体育app Stiperstones in Shropshire 鈥� NNRs are the very best places to experience the natural world at first hand.

Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board

皇冠体育app Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board was formed in April 2012. 皇冠体育app Board鈥檚 purpose is to protect people and their property against river and surface water flooding through water level management within low lying areas predominately from the east of Doncaster towards the River Idle and River Torne which discharge into the River Trent. As part of its remit, the Board also works with Local Authorities and the Environment Agency and other public bodies, continuing to manage water levels for the overall benefit of people, property, commerce, industry, agriculture and the aquatic environment within the defined Drainage District.

皇冠体育app Thorne and Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum

Formed in 1989 acts as an umbrella for a wide range of like-minded organisations. Its extensive network is drawn from voluntary organisations and natural history societies, and it has observers from statutory agencies and local authorities. 皇冠体育app Forum has on occasions taken on a campaigning role, but this aspect of its work has always been underpinned by robust science, and research, survey and monitoring remain key activities. 皇冠体育app Forum is administered by an Executive Committee and it publishes its findings extensively.