Ecological Work
& Peatland Restoration.

Restoring Dartmoor's Blanket Bog

Dartmoor's blanket bog is one of the most carbon-rich and ecologically valuable landscapes in England. Where it has been damaged by historic drainage, peat cutting or erosion, restoration work allows it to retain water, lock up carbon and support the rare plants and wildlife that depend on it.

Fred Hill Rural & Groundworks has been working on peatland restoration projects on Dartmoor alongside Natural England and the National Trust — re-wetting damaged areas, blocking erosion gullies and re-profiling exposed peat hags so that natural vegetation can recover.

What the Work Involves

• Gully blocking and damming — using peat, timber, stone and coir to slow water and rewet drying bog.
• Hag re-profiling — softening exposed peat faces so vegetation can re-establish.
• Sphagnum and habitat works — preparing surfaces for sphagnum reintroduction.
• Drain blocking — sealing historic moorland drains and grips.
• Sensitive access — getting plant on and off site without damaging the surrounding bog.

Low Ground Pressure & Sensitive Methods

Working on a Site of Special Scientific Interest demands a different approach to standard groundworks. We use low ground pressure excavators, bog mats and tracked routes to keep impact to a minimum, and plan every site to leave the surrounding habitat as undisturbed as possible.

Where appropriate, this work also draws on our wider machine work experience and broader groundworks capability — but always tuned to the conservation priorities of the site.

Working With Conservation Bodies

Projects are delivered in close coordination with site managers, ecologists and project officers. We're comfortable with method statements, environmental constraints, biosecurity protocols and the seasonal windows that govern when work can and can't take place on the moor.

Areas Covered

Peatland and moorland restoration across Dartmoor, with wider ecological and rural environmental work across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset — including Bodmin Moor, Exmoor, the Quantocks and lowland conservation sites.