Naturally, at your service: - RSPB

Case Studies – The UK Uplands
The UK Uplands
nature conservation, and
multiple services.
SCaMP
The impact on water quality of land
management practises in water
catchments provides one of the
clearest examples of where what is
good for nature is good for people.
Peatlands provide a variety of
ecosystem services, such as habitat
for biodiversity, carbon
sequestration, recreational
opportunities, as well as regulating
roles in water supply and
purification. In many instances
these services can be provided
simultaneously. The Sustainable
Catchment Management
Programme (SCaMP) is developing
an integrated approach to catchment
management within two key areas
of Bowland and the Peak District.
Both areas comprise largely upland,
open ground habitats, such as rough
grassland and heather moorland.
They are part of the water
catchment area serving the North
West. The SCaMP project is being
undertaken by United Utilities, in
partnership with the RSPB. Its
objectives are to:
• deliver government nature
conservation targets
• enhance biodiversity
• ensure a sustainable future for
the company’s agricultural tenants
• protect and improve water quality
Additionally the project will look at
the carbon stored in the peat soils
to assess the potential for SCaMP
restoration work to impact positively
on the carbon flux.
Enhancing landscape and wildlife
offers valuable recreational and
aesthetic benefits to residents and
visitors. Working with farmers to
promote sustainable land
management techniques reduces
environmentally damaging diffuse
pollution. We are testing whether
benefits to water quality include
improved microbiology, reduced soil
erosion, and water colour. This
should reduce the need for “end of
pipe” water treatment and save
water consumers money. SCaMP
demonstrates that managing for
ecosystem services and biodiversity
can be a win-win situation for
all involved.
For land owners, the extnernal
benefits, in terms or ecosystem
services, of farm management
provide a justification for agrienvironment
payments based on
the ‘provider-gets’ principle.
Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Lake Vyrnwy
The Lake Vyrnwy catchment is
a nature reserve, tourist destination,
education resource, a source of
clean water, and a farm producing
fine organic lamb and beef.
European Commission funding is
currently being used to carry out
restoration of blanket bog on a
landscape scale.
Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
This restoration work involves reinstating
the water tables by
blocking moorland drains. This aims
to halt habitat degradation.
The project is monitoring water runoff
rates, discharge times, and the
‘flashiness’ of upland streams.
Initial results from the project
suggest that drain blocking reduces
the peak flow rates and lengthens
the lag between rainfall and peak
flow. These findings may have
implications for reducing
downstream flood risk. A number
of water quality measures are also
being taken during the project.
Preliminary results suggest that
total water colour declines
following drain blocking.
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