South West Peatland Partnership wins Gold at 2024 Global Good Awards

The South West Peatland Partnership (SWPP), a collaborative effort dedicated to restoring the vital peatlands of Dartmoor, Exmoor, and Cornwall, has been awarded gold at the prestigious 2024 Global Good Awards. The partnership received the top honour in the newly introduced "Wild World: Recover, Regenerate, Rewild" category, recognising their groundbreaking environmental work.

The awards ceremony, held at the BMA House in London, celebrates organisations making significant, real-world contributions to environmental sustainability that are both scalable and replicable. The SWPP’s success impressed the judges, who praised the partnership for its "practical collaboration across sectors" and its inclusion of historical, social, and economic benefits in their peatland restoration efforts.

SWPP Manager Morag Angus spoke of the team’s pride in receiving global recognition, noting their recent achievements: “In the past year, we’ve worked with local contractors to build over 25km of peat bunds, stone barriers, and log blocks across Dartmoor, Exmoor, and Cornwall. These interventions slow the flow of water, reduce erosion, and create wet environments that benefit species like the dunlin and insect-eating sundews.”

Among the impressive results, one of the project’s major highlights was a reduction in peak storm flow by 49% in a single gully, helping to prevent erosion, improve water quality, and slow runoff into local reservoirs.

The South West's peatlands are globally significant but under threat. Spanning almost 25,000 hectares, these rare blanket bog habitats store carbon, support wildlife, and slow water flow. However, most of the region’s peatlands have been degraded by drainage or erosion, diminishing their ability to act as carbon sinks and preserve their rich biodiversity.

The SWPP has been actively working to reverse this trend. The £13 million project, funded primarily by Natural England's Nature for Climate Peatland Restoration Scheme, has recruited over 60 local roles, including agricultural contractors and landowners, to carry out restoration work. Morag also spoke of the economic value of the initiative: “The project is not only restoring the landscape but also creating a local supply chain and fostering peatland-related job roles in the region.”

The success of the SWPP has drawn praise from key stakeholders. Natural England expressed its pride in supporting the partnership, noting that restoring peatlands is critical in the fight against climate change. A spokesperson said: "Peatlands in poor condition release carbon instead of storing it, making the SWPP's work essential for building climate resilience."

Carolyn Cadman, Director of Natural Resources at South West Water, applauded the SWPP’s global recognition: "Their work has a lasting positive impact on the environment, wildlife, and water quality across the South West."

Tom Stratton, Land Steward for the Duchy of Cornwall, also lauded the partnership: “Restoring precious peatland habitat is crucial, and this award highlights the importance of this progressive project.”

The SWPP has been delivering peatland restoration in the region for 25 years, growing from a small initiative into a globally recognised leader in environmental restoration. As Mary-Rose Lane of the Environment Agency said: “The SWPP now helps our upland peatlands be more resilient to climate change, restoring water supplies, improving quality, and supporting wildlife regeneration.”

Looking ahead, the SWPP remains focused on continuing its restoration work. "We can’t stop now," Morag said. "We need to keep the momentum going and restore even more peatland in the South West to make a lasting difference.”

As the SWPP heads into its next restoration season, the partnership’s efforts are an inspiring example of how local action can achieve global recognition, driving positive change for people, wildlife, and the planet.