Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden warns of urgency to protect 'national treasure' peatlands
Peatlands are unique wetlands made up of rich organic soil and mossy vegetation, and are among the most valuable ecosystems for nature and carbon on Earth.
Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden has warned that peatlands - one of Britain’s “most prized national treasures”- are being destroyed.
The entrepreneur, who described how “nature has always been close to my heart”, spoke out against the threats facing the wetland ecosystems.
She said: “Wet and boggy is no longer the best description for the majority of UK peatlands, with around 80% now damaged and deteriorating.
“The burning of peatland, draining of bogs and planting of commercial forestry have all taken a toll on what should be one of our most prized national treasures.”
Peatlands, also known as peat bog, are a special type of wetland covering 2.7 million hectares of the UK.
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When healthy, peatlands lock away carbon – keeping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, filter our drinking water and support natural flood management.
Peatlands are also home to some of the UK’s rarest birds and other wildlife – from skydancing Hen Harriers, to hares and insect-eating sundew plants.
The Flow Country - a vast peat bog that covers much of Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland - was last month declared the world's first peatland World Heritage Site.
Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “To have Scotland’s Flow Country sitting alongside the Serengeti and the Great Barrier Reef as one of the world’s greatest natural ecosystems is truly momentous.
“Peatlands are among nature’s greatest superpowers, storing vast amounts of carbon and providing a home for some of our most endangered wildlife, from Curlews to Hen Harriers.
“Unfortunately, many areas of peatland are in a damaged state, which is why the RSPB is working across the UK to restore and protect these precious habitats.”
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Ms Meaden has backed a partnership between Omaze and the RSPB which will see at least £1 million from this month’s Million Pound House Draw used to support the charity’s peatland protection and restoration work in the UK.
She said: “Efforts to bring the UK’s peatlands back to their natural state are already happening, and Scotland’s Flow Country becoming the world’s first peatland World Heritage Site underlines their global significance.
“We now need to go further and faster to protect these irreplaceable landscapes.”
By Deborah Meaden, Dragons' Den investor and entrepreneur
The first things that come to mind when I think about peat bogs are probably wet feet and squelchy shoes.
And that is exactly what peatlands should be like – very wet and very squelchy.
These amazing landscapes are found in all four countries of the UK and when they are in a healthy condition they have a huge role to play in tackling climate change and providing a home for some of the UK’s rarest birds, plants and bugs.
Over thousands of years peatlands have been soaking up water, storing carbon and keeping it safely locked away.
They only cover about 3% of the planet yet store more carbon than all of the world’s forests.
Unfortunately, wet and boggy is no longer the best description for the majority of UK peatlands, with around 80 per cent now damaged and deteriorating.
The burning of peatland, draining of bogs and planting of commercial forestry have all taken a toll on what should be one of our most prized national treasures.
Damaged peatland actually releases carbon back into the atmosphere, so not only is the situation bad news for nature and the species that should call these places home, but also for humans as we try to deal with the impacts of climate change.
Spending time in nature has always been close to my heart. We have some incredible wildlife and wild places here in the UK and it is up to all of us to protect it.
The good news is we already have solutions to fix the problem, including how to restore precious peatlands so they keep their vast carbon stores locked away.
That’s why I’m backing a new partnership between Omaze and the RSPB which will see at least £1m from this month’s Million Pound House Draw used to support the charity’s peatland protection and restoration work in the UK.
Efforts to bring the UK’s peatlands back to their natural state are already happening, and Scotland’s Flow Country becoming the world’s first peatland World Heritage Site underlines their global significance.
We now need to go further and faster to protect these irreplaceable landscapes.”
