Lowland Peat Water Schemes

Rewetting England's Lowland Peat

Lowland agricultural peat soils in England, concentrated in areas like the East Anglian Fens and Somerset Levels, are among the nation's most productive farmlands but also its fastest-degrading landscapes. Drainage for agriculture over centuries has exposed peat to air, causing oxidation that releases vast amounts of CO₂ and subsides land by centimetres annually—threatening both food production and climate goals.

Recent policy has sharpened focus on these areas. The 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan earmarked £85 million for peat measures, with the bulk directed at lowland sites to support water infrastructure, exploration of wetter practices, and paludiculture. This builds on earlier pilots like the Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot and Small Infrastructure Pilot, which tested rewetting feasibility without catastrophic flood or yield losses.

The stakes are immediate and high. Lowland peats emit roughly 3% of UK greenhouse gases despite covering only 1.5% of land, driven by ongoing drainage. Raising water tables even modestly—by 10-30 cm—can slash emissions by several tonnes of CO₂ per hectare yearly, potentially turning some sites into net sinks. Yet full rewetting risks reduced crop yields, higher irrigation needs, or altered drainage that could exacerbate flooding in vulnerable catchments.

Tensions abound. Farmers worry about economic viability if arable land shifts toward wetland-adapted crops or reduced intensity, while internal drainage boards and communities demand safeguards against flood risks. Water resource constraints loom large—rewetting demands reliable supplies that may compete with other uses in dry summers. Government pilots have shown promise in balancing these through targeted infrastructure like telemetry and control structures, but scaling requires collaboration across landowners, agencies, and local authorities.

The timing is critical. With schemes launching in 2026 and running to 2030, aligned to Carbon Budget 6 and net zero 2050, early movers can access Discovery Grants for planning and Implementation Grants for physical works. Inaction accelerates soil loss—some Fen fields have dropped metres over decades—and locks in higher emissions as deadlines approach.