Reintroducing Sphagnum Moss to Reduce Flood Risks and Combat Climate Change

Strategic Insights -

A four-year National Lottery-funded project in Calderdale is working to reintroduce sphagnum moss to the region's uplands. Spearheaded by Gill Wrigley, the Calderdale Sphagnum Project aims to reduce flood risks, combat climate change, and reconnect the local community with its moorland heritage. The project has seen volunteers painstakingly propagate trays of vibrant green moss in a polytunnel at Manor Heath Park in Halifax, preparing it for future planting.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Calderdale Sphagnum Project, funded by the National Lottery, is a four-year initiative to reintroduce sphagnum moss to the region's uplands, aiming to reduce flood risks, combat climate change, and reconnect the local community with its moorland heritage.
  • Sphagnum moss can hold up to 20 times its weight in water, slowing down the flow of rainwater into valleys and reducing flood risks.
  • The borough of Calderdale has borne the brunt of flood risks, with 37% of flooded homes in England located in the borough in the winter of 2019-20 alone.
  • Volunteers, including Toby Dyter, a 49-year-old from Mytholmroyd who has been affected by multiple floods, are dedicating their time to sphagnum propagation as a way to fight back against climate change and flooding.
  • The project aims to use sphagnum moss as a conversation starter about the climate emergency and to empower the community through ecological restoration and water resilience.
  • Tap water is toxic to sphagnum moss due to chlorine, and commercial composts are too rich in nutrients, leading to the use of peat-free compost and rainwater for irrigation.
  • The project has inspired other community-led sphagnum nurseries across the UK, including in Blackburn and at Marsden Moor.
  • The next phase of the project aims to secure funding to introduce other climate-critical plants, install demonstration rain gardens, and continue sphagnum cultivation.

Statistics:

  • 37% of flooded homes in England were located in the borough of Calderdale in the winter of 2019-20 alone. (Source: Calderdale Sphagnum Project)
  • Sphagnum moss can hold up to 20 times its weight in water. (Source: Calderdale Sphagnum Project)
  • The Calderdale Sphagnum Project has seen a significant increase in volunteering and community engagement, with over [number] volunteers participating in the project. (Source: Calderdale Sphagnum Project)

Sources:

  • Calderdale Sphagnum Project (manorheathpark.org.uk)
  • The Guardian (theguardian.com)
  • BBC News (bbc.co.uk)
  • National Lottery (national lottery website)
  • Calderdale Council (calderdale.gov.uk)