Clough Woodland Project

Clough woodlands are found in ravines on the edge of open moorland

They provide habitat for many animals and plants and help to reduce the risk of flooding downstream

Moors for the Future Partnership helps landowners to create clough woodland

Supporting landowners to provide public benefits through broadleaf tree planting in upland cloughs


Project start date: October 2012
Project end date: Ongoing

We support landowners and land managers to create clough woodlands by helping them obtain funding from the Forestry Commission and Natural England. Clough woodlands can reduce flood risk, improve water quality and increase biodiversity, including declining species of birds.

Clough woodlands are areas of steep-sided woodland on the edge of open moorland. The trees stabilise the slopes and provide a valuable home for wildlife.

Our clough woodland  work contributes towards achieving the Peak District National Park’s Biodiversity Action Plan objectives of increasing semi-natural woodland, and enhancing and restoring moorland fringe habitats. Clough woodland provides habitat for declining woodland birds including tree pipits, redstarts and pied flycatchers.

Important upland habitat in their own right, when they fringe blanket bogs clough woodlands work in unison with the bogs to provide many benefits for people and the environment.

Case study: Modelling work on the lower Derwent Valley showed how planting woodland could help reduce flooding.  Results showed that 60% tree coverage in the river’s catchment, could significantly lower downstream water levels after high rainfall events, potentially reducing the risk of flooding in the city of Derby (Environment Agency, 2011).

Clough woodland factsheets

Clough Woodland | Moorland Management | Land owner guidance | Conservation works

Clough Woodland: Benefits for My Land

A handy factsheet for landowners about the benefits of creating clough woodland

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Clough woodland | Moorland management | Guidance for landowners | Habitat creation

Clough Woodland: Grants and Support

A handy factsheet for landowners providing information about the grants and support you can get for clough woodland creation.

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Clough Woodland | Habitat creation | Moorland management | Guidance for landowners

Clough Woodland: Planting New Woodland

A factsheet for landowners to guide you through everything you need to know about creating a clough woodland on your land.

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Clough | Woodland | Creation | tree | planting | advice | guidance | land management

Creation of Clough Woodlands - Methodology and Design Principles 2019

This document outlines guiding principles and considerations for the creation of native clough woodland in the Dark Peak and South Pennines.

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Clough | Woodland | Creation | Tree | Planting | advice | guidance | land management

Creation of Clough Woodlands in the Dark Peak - Guiding Principles 2019

This document outlines the area-specific guiding principles to be adopted in the creation of any new native woodland in the Dark Peak National Character Area.

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Clough | Woodland | creation | tree | planting | advice | guidance | land management

Creation of Clough Woodlands in the South Pennines - Guiding Principles 2019

This document outlines the area-specific guiding principles to be adopted in the creation of any new native woodland in the South Pennine Moors National Character Area

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Partners

  • The Environment Agency
  • Forestry Commission
  • National Trust
  • Woodland Trust
  • RSPB
  • Peak District National Park Authority
  • Natural England

Funders

  • The Environment Agency
  • Forestry Commission
  • National Trust
  • RSPB
  • Peak District National Park Authority
  • The Woodland Trust

Facts and figures

The project has contributed to the creation of over 500 hectares of native woodlands

£2.4 million granted to landowners and land managers to create clough woodland

Modelling by the Environment Agency showed that 60% tree cover in the River Derwent’s catchment could reduce downstream water levels by up to 340mm at St Mary’s Bridge in Derby potentially avoiding flooding in the city