Part of a seven-part series discussing ‘What are the uplands for?’, the fifth Heather Trust event in the Peak District – Funding for the Natural Environment – included a site visit onto the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate and a conference at Bradfield Village Hall.
Supported by Moors for the Future Partnership, the day centred on the ecosystem services that the moorlands can offer with a particular focus on water quality, biodiversity and natural flood management. Bringing together a range of different outlooks on the moors, the day opened up opportunity for landowners, gamekeepers and farmers to discuss these ecosystem services with Natural England, Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, IUCN Peatland UK and Peak District National Park.
The Heather Trust highlighted the emerging potential of new income-generating possibilities to protect these vital and valuable ecosystem services of the moor with speakers from the sustainable bank, Triodos and the environmental online market platform, EnTrade. The day concluded with a lively question and answers session that explored how the moors can be managed to provide positive environmental outcomes that are financially supported. There was firm agreement across all those in attendance on the importance of good management. Find more information on moorland eco-system services and the series: