1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Doncaster
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Restoring the Humberhead Peatlands (LIFE+ project)
Short description of the intervention
The Humberhead Peatlands are the UK's largest lowland raised bog complex and are part of the Natura 2000 network. They are located East of Doncaster and include the Thorne Moors and the Hatfield Moors (both towns are part of the Doncaster Borough). Commercial peat extraction has changed the hydraulic balance of the area, which impacts the condition of the peatland. This project aims to restore the water balance and thereby the peatland that can help prevent flooding, which is a breeding ground for the European nightjar, while also creating local jobs. The Humberhead Peatlands LIFE+ project completed its delivery phase in June 2019. (Ref 2, 3)
Address

Hatfield Moors
Hatfield
Doncaster
DN7 6BF
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-0.971721 53.535692)
POINT (-0.946936 53.566857)
POINT (-0.89999 53.545534)
POINT (-0.933915 53.5305)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google maps. Available at:
1. Humberhead Peatland: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Humberhead+Peatlands+NNR/@53.5462208,-0.9642198,5992m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4879053ec70f604b:0x784f0bef89de6495!8m2!3d53.5361099!4d-0.9706482. Accessd on 26th October, 2020.
2. Humberhead Peatland including Thorne Moors: https://www.google.com/maps/search/thorne+peatland/@53.6336781,-0.924213,9280m/data=!3m1!1e3. Accessed on 26th October, 2020.

Note: The Humberhead Peatlands located in Doncaster are in Thorne Moors and the Hatfield Moors. The above-mentioned co-ordinates boundary only the Hatfield Moors. But, the aerial photographs include both of the areas.
Total area
28870000.00m²
NBS area
28870000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Protected Area
Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Website of the intervention
http://www.humberheadpeatlands.org.uk/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2014
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2014
End date of the intervention
2019
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. Carry out conservation actions to restore lowland raised bog habitats and to establish a stable water table within +/- 20 cm of ground level across 3273 ha, thus enabling peat-forming vegetation to re-establish on degraded peat bog surfaces;
2. Link up areas of good quality habitat by increasing the general quality of the moors, allowing species to move between quality patches;
3. Create large areas of bog habitat in favourable condition, ensuring suitable conditions for key species despite increasingly varied climatic conditions;
4. Increase the European nightjar population by 15% from the current population of 80-88 territorial males; and Monitor bog recovery by water-level, data-logging and recording the re-establishment of peat-forming vegetation, and assess numbers of breeding European nightjar and key invertebrates. (Ref 1, 3, 4).

Quantitative targets
1. Carry out conservation actions to restore lowland raised bog habitats and to establish a stable water table within +/- 20 cm of ground level across 3273 h;
2. Changes to European nightjar feeding patterns and a 15% population increase from 80-88 males to 92-101 males;
3. Generation of at least 4 full-time and 7 part-time jobs (Ref 2).
Monitoring indicators defined
Hectares of scrub removed; hectares of invasive birch and rhodondendron scrub removed; centimeters of water rise; number of weirs and peat dams installed; meter of bunds installed; presence of an automatically operated pumping station; Percentage of European nightjar population change; number of jobs created (Ref 2).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Improvements to water quality
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Sequester and store carbon
Please specify "other Climate change mitigation activity"
Restoration of peatlands
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Clear and control invasive alien species
Implementation activities
The water balance of the Humberhead Peatlands was restored to better accommodate peat-forming vegetation. This was done by removing scrubs, installing weirs, peat dams and bunds and automatically operated pumping stations. In addition, this has created local jobs (Ref 2).
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Other
Please specify "other blue area"
Peatlands
Vegetation Type
Shrubs
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Carbon storage/sequestration
Flood regulation
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The project is a collaboration between The EU, Natural England, Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board, Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, North Lincolnshire Council, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. The roles of the parties involved are not specified for this specific project, but a brief description of each is provided (Ref 1).
Key actors - initiating organization
National government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
EU body
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
EU body
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
The LIFE programme (Ref. 2) project description refers to Nature Protection and Biodiversity, and Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora - Habitats Directive.
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
The Humberhead Levels are a Nature Improvement Area and are thereby part of a national scheme managed by Natural England (Ref 8)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The Doncaster Green Infrastructure Strategy document of 2014 (Ref 5) refers to the Humberhad Level Peatland restoration.
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
Voluntary habitat restoration
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Doncaster Green Infrastructure Strategy of 2014 (Ref 5) refers to the Humberhead peatland restoration.
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The "Humberhead Levels Partnership" logo is features in one of the reports (Ref. 2). Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is part of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which is a national network that focuses on sustainability and green infrastructure (Ref. 2). The project is a EU LIFE+ project and is thus part of an international network.
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
For the city: EU funding, Natural England;
From the city: Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board (Ref 2 & 3)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
An association
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
5,592,243 Euros, of which 2,638,276 Euros comes from EU contribution and 1.9 million British Pounds from the Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board. The remaining costs were covered by Natural England (Ref 2, 3).
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Public national budget
EU funds
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
No
Business models
Risk reduction model
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Green infrastructural adjustments are made to the current peatland (Ref 2).
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Environmental quality
Improved waste management
Improved soil quality
Water management and blue areas
Increased protection against flooding
Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increase in protected green space areas
Increased number of protection areas
Reduced biodiversity loss
Description of environmental benefits
1. 234 ha scrub was removed on Hatfield Moors and 338 ha of invasive birch and rhododendron scrub were removed on Thorne Moors.
2. This has enabled the water table to rise to within 20 cm of the peat’s surface and allowing peat-forming vegetation to re-establish.
3. 65 weirs, 67 peat dams and 5800 m of bunds were installed on Hatfield Moors to establish hydrological control.
4. 16 tilting weirs, 225 peat dams, 7900 m of bunds were installed, and 2300 m peat ‘cliff’ re-profiled on Thorne Moors to establish hydrological control.
5. Installation of an automatically operated pumping station on Thorne Moors to prevent flooding, which would prevent peat-forming vegetation from re-establishing.
6. Changes to European nightjar feeding patterns and a 15% population increase from 80-88 males to 92-101 males.
7. The land achieved favourable Natura 2000 protected site conditions.
8. The restoration is expected to serve as a huge carbon storage ground for the future. (Ref 2).
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Description of economic benefits
1. Generation of 4 full-time and 7 part-time jobs. (Ref 2)
Social and cultural impacts
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
1. The restoration of the Moors has the potential to improve their cultural and heritage values to visitors and the local community. Examples of such values include opportunities for recreation, understanding the past and appreciating nature. These services to society are being studied via postal questionnaire surveys of the local community, surveys at public events and by interviewing visitors.
2. The project included volunteering and created full-time and part-time jobs.
3. Raising public awareness and explaining the restoration of the Humberhead Peatlands, to local communities and the academic world is a key element of the LIFE+ project. The team is working with the academic world to share knowledge, experience, best practice and lessons learnt for the benefit of local, national and European scientific audiences, including other LIFE+ projects.
4. The team run a variety of community events, circulate a regular newsletter, host guided walks on Hatfield and Thorne Moors, and offered volunteering opportunities. They also publish and promote the results of the work through a series of regular reports, open days, workshops and conferences. (Ref 2, 3)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
area of scrub removed, water table to rise, protection from flooding incidents, number of species protected and number of people involved (Ref 2, 4)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Unknown
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Voluntary work opportunities
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of October, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Focus groups
Questionnaire surveys / online surveys
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Observation (including virtual surveillance methods)
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
http://www.humberheadpeatlands.org.uk/index.php?page=reports
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
THATS-LIFE Restoring Humberhead Peatlands: LIFE+ Project
Humberhead Peatlands life+ project Hatfielt, Thorne, Crowle & Goole Moors
Humberhead Peatlands restoration LIFE+ project
LIFE+ Project - Restoring the Humberhead Peatlands: Mid Project Workshop
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Ref 1: Humberhead peatlands leaflet (1.01 MB) 1.01 MB
Ref 6: Monitoring and evaluation of Nature Improvement Areas (3.73 MB) 3.73 MB
List of references
Ref 1. Humberhead Peat Leaflet (attached)
Ref 2. EUROPA.EU case studies. (no date) THATS-LIFE Restoring Humberhead Peatlands: LIFE+ Project. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=5075&docType=pdf. Accessed on 26th October, 2020.
Ref. 3. GOV.UK (no date) Humberhread Peatlands restoration LIFE+ project. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/humberhead-peatlands-restoration-life-project. Accessed on 26th October, 2020.
Ref. 4. Hunberhead Peatland Project Website (no date) Humberhead Peatlands life+ project Hatfield, Thorne, Crowle & Goole Moors. Available at: http://www.humberheadpeatlands.org.uk/. Accessed on 26th October, 2020.
Ref 5. Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. (2014). The Doncaster Green Infrastructure Strategy 2014-2018: Creating a Greener, healthier and more attractive borough.
Ref 6. Natural England. (2015). Monitoring and evaluation of Nature Improvement Areas: Final report (2012-2015)
Comments and notes
Public Images
Humberhead Peatlands
Humberhead Peatlands Project Website
http://www.humberheadpeatlands.org.uk/index.php?page=aboutUs