Bog areas on Exmoor, like this one near Mole's Chamber, have already benefited from the collaboration between business and academia. Photo: Martin Bodman (commons.wikimedia.org).

 A collaboration between a water company and university researchers is exploring innovative approaches to the restoration of peatland on Exmoor and Dartmoor.

 Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council’s business internship scheme, the collaboration between South West Water (SWW) and researchers from Birmingham City University (BCU) and the University of Leeds will bring together water, land and carbon management, and promote closer collaboration, while helping to harness peat’s natural capacity to manage water and store carbon.

 Mark Reed, Project Manager from BCU said: “There are many benefits to restoring peatlands. As well as improving water flow and storage on the moors, restoration for wildlife could attract more tourists and improve recreational access to the national parks.”

 Dr David Smith, from (SWW) added: “We have been working with the Exmoor Mires Project to restore the bogs on Exmoor since 2006.  In 2010, South West Water committed £2.4 million over 5 years to a research-led project and this latest NERC-funded collaboration brings in even more skills and expertise.

 “Our new partners will use the on-going research to develop a carbon and water based ecosystem services scheme. As well as paying for peatland restoration work, this could also bring a return to the moorland owners and tenants who have participated in this award winning project. And most importantly, water consumers in the South-West will benefit from the increased water storage better regulated flow.”