Headfor the HILLS


As the days shorten and the weather bites, the Cumbrian fells see fewer visitors striding paths and seeking summits. Yet for Susie Webb and the peatland restoration team, it’s the perfect time for heading out...


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magine walking across soſt, springy ground and, as you take each step, the earth beneath gently wobbles and


your feet sink slightly into the mossy carpet. Around you the grasses and sedges have faded to a rich orange-brown, and when you look closer you see the jewel-like red and green leaves of sundews glistening, bright red berries growing on the delicate, creeping stems of cranberry, and a multi-coloured array of different Sphagnum mosses, ranging from orange to deep


wine-red and vivid lime green. Ahead, a russet-toned short-eared owl quarters back and forth, flushing a small flock of golden plover, which fly high into the sky emiting their piping alarm call. Te last of the summer’s dragonflies flit around, taking advantage of the small, shallow pools lying between the hummocks of moss and cotongrass. Tis scene probably isn’t what


most people think of when someone mentions peatlands, as a cold, wet, bleak place where


you get damp feet and run the risk of geting stuck may be a more likely vision. Nevertheless, peatlands are hugely vibrant and important habitats that are home to a host of unique species, and can play a vital role in combating climate change and alleviating flooding. In the autumn they can be beautifully colourful, and it’s also the time of year when we start to carry out restoration works on damaged and degraded bogs to bring them back to life.


Cumbrian Wildlife | November 2025


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