The Climate Project: Sphagnum season starts again - can you help us plant this carbon-sequestering moss?
The sphagnum season is upon us again! Now that the ground-nesting birds have stopped ground-nesting, it’s time for BMC volunteers to start planting this incredible, carbon-sequestering moss at strategic locations across the Peak District moorland. Can you help us?
Join us as we plant sphagnum guided by Moors for the Future as part of the BMC’s Access & Conservation Trust campaign The Climate Project. Last season BMC volunteers and staff planted a grand total of 16,100 sphagnum plugs in the Peak, can we beat that this season? Help us out by volunteering - new dates have now been released for August, September and October.
Why plant sphagnum?
Sphagnum moss is a key building block of peat and healthy blanket bog keeps the underlying peat banks safe. Sphagnum traps carbon dioxide and due to its water retention properties it also helps reduce flooding and improves water quality. Therefore protection and restoration of blanket bog is an important part of the fight against climate change worldwide, as well as flooding and habitat loss more locally in the Peak District. Find out more here.
What happens on a sphagnum planting volunteer day?
Everyone meets up at the start location (usually a small car park, please share lifts if possible) and meets the very friendly and welcoming BMC Peak Area Hill Walking Volunteer Peter Judd, the other BMC volunteers and a super knowledgeable ranger from the Moors for the Future Partnership for an introductory chat and safety briefing.
Dibbing tools and bags full of sphagnum plugs are handed out and carried amongst the group to the project area a short walk away, led by the Moors for the Future ranger. The rep then explains how sphagnum is vital to protecting the peat bog, demonstrates the planting process and answers any questions. Then everyone starts planting away in the designated area.
There’s usually a short break for lunch and a chat, then the final plugs are planted. Then it’s tools down, empty sphagnum bags stuffed into rucksacks and a walk back to the car park for home time, smug in the knowledge that you’ve done your bit to protect the Peak’s peat bogs.
Watch the BMC TV sphagnum planting video
What kit do you need?
The only thing you might not already have as a hill walker is a dibber to make the small holes that the sphagnum plugs are planted into. All it needs to be is a stick, anything that will make a 1cm wide hole in the ground. The longer it is, the less you will have to bend down to make the hole. The rangers will have spares if you don’t have one.
Gardening gloves or old winter gloves in addition to your usual hill walking gloves are also a must as the weather gets colder. A grubby pair for planting and a dry pair for breaks or after are vital as the planting pair will get soggy from pressing the earth back round the sphagnum. Some people also use heavy-duty Marigold washing up gloves, and if it's cold you could buy an XL pair and wear slim liner gloves underneath to keep warm.
Then it’s a case of wearing and packing your normal hill walking gear including waterproof boots with grippy soles, waterproof jacket and trousers, plus an extra layer to put on while you stop to have lunch. Take a packed lunch, snacks and drink for a 6 hour day on the hill. A flask of hot drink or soup is a nice idea on colder days. For the later events in the year, remember to pop in a small headtorch - they are planned to finish well before dark, but just in case of an emergency everyone must take one.
How fit do I have to be?
There’s a short walk to the planting site at the pace of the slowest person. Planting sphagnum is super easy and takes hardly any physical effort beyond poking a dibber into the soft, peaty ground and bending down to place the plug into the hole. If you have problems bending down or with your knees you can also work in pairs, with one person remaining standing to use a long dibber to make the hole and the other person crouching down to plant the sphagnum plug.
Give it a go!
We know you’ll enjoy this friendly, welcoming and supportive BMC volunteering experience but don’t take our word for it, read our interview with volunteer coordinator Peter Judd here to find out more.
Volunteer now!
New dates are always being released during the sphagnum planting season from the end of August to the end of March. Take a look at the latest dates and come join our friendly volunteer teams.
The Climate Project: Sphagnum
Can't volunteer?
Donating is also a fantastic way to support this sphagnum planting, part of The Climate Project, brought to you by the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust charity. Your donations are greatly appreciated.
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