Wetland and water management
Restoring the Garron Plateau Blanket Bog for Climate, Water, and Biodiversity Benefits
Garron Plateau, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
The Garron Plateau Bog Restoration Project restored 2,000 hectares of degraded peatland—the largest blanket bog in Northern Ireland—through rewetting, drain blocking, and sustainable grazing management. Led by NI Water, RSPB, and NIEA, the initiative enhanced water quality for 14,000 households, reduced carbon emissions, and revitalised habitats for rare species. The work, integrated within the cross-border CABB project, demonstrated strong ecosystem and economic returns.
Historically drained and overgrazed, the Garron Plateau’s peat bogs suffered from falling water tables, peat erosion, and carbon loss. The resulting poor water quality increased costs at NI Water’s Dungonnell Water Treatment Works, while degraded habitats threatened biodiversity and reduced natural flood regulation. Recognising these linked challenges, NI Water and partners launched restoration to improve hydrology, carbon storage, biodiversity, and water quality in alignment with the EU Water Framework and climate targets.
- 2,000 ha of peat bog restored on the Garron Plateau, rewetting the largest intact blanket bog in Northern Ireland.
- 1,000+ drains blocked across 493 ha under the 2018–2019 CABB project.
- Reduced grazing densities through collaboration with local farmers.
- Carbon sequestration re-established; ~9,000 tonnes CO₂ avoided annually.
- Raw water quality improved—lower colour, turbidity, and total organic carbon.
- Economic return estimated at £4 of public benefits per £1 invested.
- Habitat recovery for priority species, including Hen Harrier and Marsh Fritillary.
- 1960s: Drainage ditches dug, leading to peat degradation.
- 2013: Garron Plateau Bog Restoration Project launched under Futurescapes.
- 2013 - 2014: First restoration phase: drain blocking and grazing reduction.
- 2016: Target year for achieving favourable bog condition.
- 2018 - 2019: Phase two under CABB project; 493 ha restored.
- 2019: Completion of 2,000 ha restoration.
The Garron Plateau project rewet over 2,000 hectares of degraded blanket bog by blocking drainage ditches, reducing grazing, and promoting Sphagnum recolonisation. Restoration raised the water table, stabilised peat, improved water quality, and restored biodiversity. Phase two, under the CABB partnership, expanded rewetting to an additional 493 hectares, yielding major carbon, water, and habitat benefits for Northern Ireland and beyond.
Intervention details
The interventions focused on restoring blanket bog function on the Garron Plateau by reversing historic drainage and overgrazing that had lowered the water table, dried and eroded peat, and degraded raw water quality.
A catchment management plan (delivered in 2013–14 under the Futurescapes Project) set out actions to bring the bog towards favourable condition by re-establishing natural hydrology. The core technical approach was re-wetting by raising the bog water table by blocking a large network of drains originally dug in the 1960s. In parallel, grazing pressure was reduced to limit further damage and support vegetation recovery. Grazing densities were reduced through engagement with farmers. Drain blocking was carried out by a specialist contractor, using a combination of peat, timber and stone dams to obstruct drains and retain water within the peat body.
The intervention relied on restoring the bog’s hydrological regime. Blocking drains increased water retention and raised the water table, which stabilised the peatland hydrology and reduced peat drying and erosion. It supported recolonisation by specialised peatland vegetation, including Sphagnum moss (identified as essential to a functioning bog). It also improved the bog’s capacity to sequester and store carbon, and lastly, enhanced filtering and retention effects that regulate and improve raw water quality entering the reservoir supplying NI Water’s Dungonnell water treatment works.
Key stakeholders
- Northern Ireland Water (NI Water)
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Northern Ireland (RSPB NI) and RSPB Scotland
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)
- BirdWatch Ireland
- Butterfly Conservation
- Moors for the Future Partnership
- Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (NI)
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Ireland).
Financial metrics
Funding sources
- EU INTERREG VA Programme (managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, SEUPB)
- Match-funding: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Ireland)
- Additional support via NI Water, RSPB NI, RSPB Scotland, BirdWatch Ireland, Butterfly Conservation, and Moors for the Future
Budget
- €4.9 million (CABB total, 5-year programme)
Environmental
- 9,000 tonnes CO₂ avoided annually (~£0.6 million/year economic value).
- Potential £1.2 million/year value if restoration scaled plateau-wide.
- Rewetting re-established Sphagnum moss and other peat-forming vegetation.
- Significant habitat recovery for Hen Harrier and Marsh Fritillary.
- Raw water quality improvements (reduced colour, turbidity, and total organic carbon).
- Prevention of peat erosion, improving water supply reliability for 14,000 households.
Social
- Strengthened cross-border collaboration and local farmer engagement.
- Education and awareness-raising on peatland value for water, carbon, and biodiversity.
- Local employment through specialist contractors and conservation teams.
Economic
- £4 in public benefits for every £1 invested (mainly from avoided emissions and flood mitigation).
- Reduced NI Water treatment costs and carbon footprint.
- Long-term savings through natural water filtration and supply regulation.
- Restoration requires careful permitting and coordination with multiple authorities.
- Weather conditions and heavy machinery can cause bog damage if unmanaged.
- Long-term monitoring and maintenance are critical to sustain restored hydrology and carbon storage.
- Early stakeholder engagement with farmers and agencies ensures smooth implementation.
- Use local materials (peat from borrow pits) for dam construction to reduce costs and aid revegetation.
- Establish baseline data before restoration and maintain hydrological and biological monitoring post-restoration.
- Factor in weather conditions, machinery choice, and land ownership clarity to avoid delays or site damage.
- Peatland restoration delivers high economic and environmental returns and should be prioritised in climate and water strategies.
For Reference
- Northern Ireland Water, 2019.
- Carbon Copy, 2025.
Information not available yet.
