We’ve recently been setting up a new experiment to examine the prospects of restoring blanket bog on felled plantation forest. This is a fascinating long-term project that involves trying to restore a functioning acrotelm by raising the level of bog water table so new peat can form – the ultimate aim is to capture new carbon, whilst also minimizing losses of existing carbon. The work involves using an excavator to modify the ground surface after felling, so it is a bit messy until the vegetation recovers. This study is therefore focused on the environmental management aspects of this work, so we are quantifying Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) flows from the trial area along with NPK loads. The work involves a sequence of trial blocks on which we are using a closed water balance approach, with outflows captured in experimental weirs and the water table being logged across the treated areas. We’re planning to write a series of research papers on this work with our client once it reaches a suitable stage.
