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Thorne and Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum |
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Thorne and Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum |
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Raised bogs form in the lowlands as single isolated domes of peat in an otherwise non- peat landscape. As peat accumulates, the bog rises from the surrounding land. The range of species found in bogs throughout the UK and Europe differ. The easy access to these bogs and their highly prized, deep moss peat make them prime targets for commercial exploitation for horticulture.
Bog systems are peat-forming mires which are fed by atmospheric precipitation - rainfall, snow, mist and dust alone. During otherwise dry periods (i.e. no rainfall), occult precipitation from mist, cloud or low-lying fog may influence the surface water-balance or, alternatively, prevent drought-stress in the main peat-forming species. Analyses of bog-pool waters show solute concentrations reflecting closely the inputs derived from rainfall. Bogs are, by definition, nutrient-poor and acidic, but are differentiated from fens with similar ion balances on the basis of their solute and water sources.
Two main types of bog have been described in Britain - blanket bog and raised bog. Their geographical distribution reflects regional differences in climate. Lindsay (1995) provided a summary of these two types, and two more restricted forms, together with a synthesis of their ecological characteristics.
In Britain, lowland raised bogs typically occur as isolated and slightly elevated features in the landscape, sometimes forming complexes of several "raised" domes of peat, which are hydrologically distinct. They are typically surrounded by highly managed farmed or forested areas.
Scientists from many disciplines recognise the importance of raised bogs. Climatologists, archaeologists and biologists value the peat archives in the living bogs as essential to research; and naturalists cherish the living carpet that covers the peat. Raised bogs help to maintain reliable supplies of clean water to rivers. They also have a cultural importance as some of the last true wilderness areas in the lowlands, and are enjoyed by thousands of people. We are only just beginning to understand the ecology of peat bogs and their importance to the global environment. We must safeguard this natural treasure for future generations and not destroy it for short-term gain.
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