Children join fight to restore fire-hit moor
YOUNGSTERS from Slaithwaite Junior School did their bit to fight climate change and restore fire damage on Marsden Moor, planting more than 200 sphagnum moss plants.
Thirty three pupils, National Trust rangers and Moors For The Future Partnership staff, braved the wind and the rain.
The mosses will help restore the peat soils damaged in the fire, as well as re-wet the moorland and reduce flood risk. Over the next few years, the National Trust will plant tens of thousands of the mosses.
It comes after fires destroyed 700 hectares of moorland in April.
The National Trust says it will still take decades and hundreds of thousands of pounds to restore the landscape.
National Trust members and the community have donated over £100,000 for the Marsden Moor Appeal. But it’s estimated it will cost a total of £500,000.
National Trust rangers have also been building small natural dams to prevent peat soils getting washed away.
This also helps capture carbon and reduce flood risk, by slowing the flow of water into the valley below.
This goes hand in hand with the National Trust’s £2.6 million natural flood management project across West Yorkshire, in partnership with
Yorkshire Water, Slow the Flow Calderdale, the Environment Agency and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Other preventative work that’s been carried out by the rangers involves using a machine to cut vegetation breaks alongside roads.
These mowed strips mean there’s less flammable grass which can help prevent the fire spreading. So far the rangers have cut 16 hectares.
The rangers have also had to repair fencing and signs which were burnt in the fire.
The National Trust has also worked with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service to raise awareness of what the public can do to help.
Lead Ranger, Tom Harman said: “The damage is a massive blow to this country’s nature conservation and to the wider climate change issues we face across the world.
“Theses moors are so important for nature and the future of global warming. It’s essential we protect them, respect them and don’t take then for granted.
“The support we’ve had from the local community and the public has been tremendous and shows just how much people care.”
Natural Flood Management Project manager Rosie Holdsworth said: “We’re really grateful for the help from Slaithwaite Junior School.
“Despite the weather, they were really helpful and cheerful and we’re really pleased that they’re doing their bit to fight climate change.”
Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ marsden-moor-estate