Peatland Tree Removal: A Key Step in Restoring Natural Wetlands

Many peatlands throughout the UK have become degraded due to a number of factors including poor management, human activities, natural causes, and drainage issues.

This is a critical issue for our ecosystem as peatlands play a pivotal role in storing vast amounts of carbon. Moreover, peatlands also assist in supporting biodiversity, further regulating water cycles. 

There are a number of individual services that contribute towards successful peatland restoration, and peatland tree removal is one of many crucial activities. Peatland tree removal is highly effective in returning peatlands, our valuable ecosystems, to their natural form. 

In this blog, we will explore why peatland tree removal is so important for restoring natural wetlands.

Key points we'll cover include:

• What are peatlands?
• Why is peatland tree removal required?
• The process of tree removal

What Are Peatlands?

Peatlands, also known as bogs, mires and heaths are unique peat based areas where organic material (plant matter) has grown and accumulated over thousands of years. Mosses that grow in these delicate ecosystems act like sponges helping with the hydrology by holding water. These peatland habitats store a vast amount of carbon, making them one of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet. 

UK peatlands are of international importance and the flora that grows on them are a vital component in keeping them efficient in locking in carbon. Trees growing on peatland dry out the peat which in turn releases carbon back into the atmosphere. Peatland restoration is extremely important for the climate as well as the nature it supports. Many rare species rely on these delicate ecosystems to survive, peatland restoration helps them to thrive.

Why is Peatland Tree Removal Required?

Trees are a vital part of many ecosystems, but they’re not always suited to the waterlogged conditions of peatlands. When trees, such as birch, willow, Sitka spruce and pine grow on peatlands, they can have an adverse impact on the condition of the site. 

Here are the predominant reasons why peatland tree removal is required:

• Restoring Natural Hydrology: In order to function properly, peatland relies on waterlogged conditions. However, when trees take over their roots can adversely impact the water table by absorbing large amounts of water. As a result of this, it usually contributes to drying out the peat, which is detrimental to the health of the ecosystem.
• Improving Carbon Sequestration: We need efficient carbon sinks to absorb masses of carbon emissions from our environment. Peatlands are highly effective in doing this. However, when peatlands are disturbed by trees, this can interfere and the carbon can be released into the atmosphere, therefore contributing to climate change.
• Enhancing Biodiversity: Trees, especially non-native species, can disrupt the delicate balance of peatland ecosystems by shading out native vegetation, altering soil chemistry, and providing habitat for pests or invasive species. By removing unnecessary trees on peatlands, this can also better support the needs of native plants and animals they are host to.

The Process of Peatland Tree Removal

TreeClear UK are your five-star-rated peatland restoration contractors that specialise in both the bigger picture and individual services such as peatland tree removal.

Here’s our process for achieving your desired results:

• Site Visit: One of the team will arrange to visit your site, have a walk over, discuss your requirements and build a picture of what you want to ultimately achieve from your project. We can advise on any methods we feel appropriate to your site and project that you may not have considered. Discuss the machinery we would deploy to achieve the best results with minimal impact, the approach we would take, timescales and deadlines. 
• Tree Removal: Using low ground pressure machinery to minimise environmental impact and various hydraulic tree felling attachments, we can carefully remove all trees, selected trees or certain species dependent on the requirements.  Once trees are mechanically felled we can stack timber and brash on site to form wildlife habitat, mulch the brash in-situ, or chip the material into stockpiles.
• Timber recovery: Does the timber on your site have a value? It may be possible for us to recover some timber and offset the cost against your project. We can remove timber off site using our own low ground pressure forwarder and assist in finding a market for the timber we recover.
• Scrub removal: Once the trees have been felled areas might be overrun with invasive species such as rhododendron which requires a different approach to remove. We offer low impact mulching and flailing options to rid your site of unwanted invasive vegetation. 
• Re-wetting: After the site has been cleared and tree removal is complete offer a full turnkey service to bring your peatland site back into managed condition so that it can remain a healthy functioning peat bog once again. The key services we offer for peatland restoration are ditch blocking, peat damming, deep trench bunding, cell bunding, water control systems and sluice instillation.

Peatland Tree Removal – Key To Peatland Restoration

In summary, peatland tree removal is an essential part of restoring peatlands throughout the UK. Although in some cases, this individual service won’t be required, it will be required for many upon a site assessment. 

By removing trees that are unnecessarily interfering with peatlands being able to act as carbon sinks, we can take a huge step forward in the joint mission of restoring natural wetlands. As a result of pro-active restoration efforts, such as tree removal, we can ensure that these vital ecosystems continue to thrive for generations to come.

Treeclear UK provides peatland tree removal, as well as further peatland restoration services throughout the UK and has previously completed projects in: Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Co Durham, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, and other areas.

We are proud to be a well-recognised member of the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) and Forestry Industry Safety Accord (FISA) as well as holding ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) and the ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems).  

Further Qualifications and member organisations were proud to be a part of include:

• Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS)
• City & Guilds NPTC qualified including (FMOC) 
• Members Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA)
• Lantra Forest Managers Assessment (FWM)