11 hectares of peatland at Greenlee Lough in Northumberland will be supported by restoration project between National Parks and Funding Circle
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Large-scale peatland restoration across the UK is set to be supported by a new partnership between National Parks and Funding Circle.
Starting in Northumberland National Park, the project will initially support the restoration of 11 hectares of peatland at Greenlee Lough, located within the Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site. The partnership has been brought together by National Parks Partnerships (NPP), which operates at a national scale to link companies, investors and environmental funders with all 15 UK National Parks.
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Greenlee and Stonefolds farms, in the ownership of Northumberland National Park Authority, extend across 196 hectares in the centre of Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is internationally significant and designated as a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a National Nature Reserve. Greenlee Lough is also the largest natural freshwater lake in Northumberland.
Hydrological mapping has identified 538 ditch blocks across the site. Restoration will involve installing peat dams at regular intervals, reprofiling grips and restoring natural water flows to re-wet peat soils and rebuild functioning peat bog systems capable of sequestering carbon, improving water holding capacity, enhancing water quality and supporting rare and specialist wetland wildlife.
Planning, monitoring and contractor engagement will begin in September 2026, with restoration works scheduled for completion by March 2027. Long-term monitoring will track water levels, biodiversity and carbon outcomes to ensure measurable impact.
Across the UK, National Parks are some of the richest natural carbon stores, and some of the country’s greatest opportunities for climate action and business resilience. In the Peatlands within National Parks alone, 119 million tonnes of carbon are stored.
However, many peatland systems have been drained or degraded, so restoring them is essential to reducing emissions, improving biodiversity and strengthening water resilience.
‘Greenlee Lough and its surrounding peatlands are among the most precious and ecologically significant landscapes in Northumberland National Park. This funding enables us to take an important step toward restoring these internationally important habitats, strengthening their ability to store carbon, improve water quality, and support rare wildlife,’ said director of park management at Northumberland National Park Authority Christine Venus.
