Bog-Off?

Only a few European countries have any peatland bogs. European bogs are mainly concentrated in the North of England, Ireland and Scotland. Over the years, much of this habitat has been drained, so the resulting low-grade grassland can be used to graze sheep or rear grouse for shooting. Peat has also been removed, to supply garden centres with potting material. Suddenly, however, the restoration of the North of England's rapidly declining bogs is in vogue (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/12/for-peats-sake-the-race-is-on-to-save-britains-disappearing-moorland-bogs). It has now been recognized that blanket bogs provide huge environmental benefits. Some peat deposits are more than 8000 years old, so bogs are places with enormous carbon capture potential. Organic material is preserved in bogs by the acidic conditions. These carbon stores help to limit climate change. Bogs also play a major role in flood prevention. Restoration of one bog in Yorkshire, reduced the water flowing off the land by 57%. Creating the bog also made the movement of water three times slower. So, although you don't 'buy one, get one free' (as in the supermarket 'bogof'), encouraging these wetlands is a cost-effective win-win.