Peatland Surveys, the Humberhead Levels – Part 2
Following on from our previous work February, the Exo Environmental team returned for the next stage of the Humberhead Levels project. The continued aims of the project are to assess the eligibility of sites for restoration grants in accordance with the Peatland Code (Find out more Here).
A soil can be described as having a soil texture of peat when its organic content is over 50%. For soils to meet the criteria of a peat soil profile and therefore meet eligibility for restoration, more than 40cm of peaty material must be present within the top 80cm of the first 1m of soil and organic or peaty soils are present within the first 30cm. These guidelines are established by the Natural England Technical Information Note TIN037.
This work, on behalf of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, involved the sampling of some 200+ locations across the wide expanse of the Humberhead Peatlands area. Coring down to 1m below the surface, we examined the soils which were present, noting the presence of peat and the degree of humification in accordance with the Von Post scale and the nature and characteristics of any mineral soils encountered. Where peat was present, deeper cores were conducted until the base of the peat layer was reached. The thickness of these layers was subsequently noted.
Sampling was completed by hand using Edelman augers and was carried out by our experienced team. Coring sites were generally focused around Misson Carr Nature Reserve, with a small amount of cores also being undertaken close to Crowle Moors. This built upon the findings from our previous work, providing a wider scope of peat coverage across the Humberhead Levels.
At the end, the Exo Team had spent an excellent first week of July marching through fen and field, encountering the local wildlife and taking in the scenery all while working to uncover the extent and condition of peat within the Humberhead Peatlands.
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