Starling Bank Peat Restoration and Saddle Heath Recovery Project
The National Trust is leading two vital restoration projects in the Mourne Mountains, addressing the impact of habitat loss and erosion. The Peat Restoration Project, focused on the area between Thomas’ Mountain and Millstone, aims to rehabilitate damaged peatlands following the 2021 wildfire by constructing timber dams to restore bog species. Meanwhile, the Saddle Heathland Recovery Project targets severe erosion on the Donard-Commendagh saddle, implementing upland grass seeding and coir rolls to stabilise the landscape. Both projects rely on the efforts of rangers and volunteers to restore these valuable ecosystems.
Peat Restoration on Millstone & Thomas' Mountain
Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation remain significant challenges for conservationists in the 21st century. High-quality peatlands are scarce globally and nationally, yet they serve as exceptional carbon sinks and are home to distinctive flora and fauna.
The National Trust is currently undertaking a multi-year peatland restoration project in the eastern Mourne Mountains, situated on the saddle between Thomas’ Mountain and Millstone. This area, affected by the 2021 Mourne wildfire, has been closely monitored to assess its recovery. Surveys identified areas of deep peat that were deteriorating into less favourable acid grassland, driven by factors such as wildfires, water erosion, and broader species loss trends.
In response, timber dams were constructed in damaged peat gullies in January 2023. These dams help capture sediment and slow water flow, creating a network of semi-permanent and permanent pools. The pools are intended to improve peatland habitat quality, fostering the growth of bog species like sphagnum moss and cotton grasses. The project is ongoing, with further dams planned for 2024 and 2025.
Saddle Restoration Project
The Donard-Commendagh saddle is one of the Mourne Mountains’ most iconic and heavily visited locations, with 125,000 people passing through the Glen River valley annually. This high foot traffic has led to severe erosion in key areas used for walking and recreation.
A contracted survey of the saddle underscored the urgent need for action to halt the degradation and restore the heathland. Traditional landscaping techniques, such as 'cut and paste,' - Transplanting sods of vegetation taken from the local landscape - were deemed insufficient to address the scale of damage.
The Mourne Ranger team launched the Saddle Heathland Recovery Project to tackle the braided paths and erosion scars. The initial phase involved removing stones and smoothing eroded areas using material sourced on-site. Upland grass seed and heather plugs were then planted in a peat-aggregate mix, which was stabilised with pegged-down coir rolls to create a secure matrix for plants to take root. This restoration work commenced in early 2024and is ongoing.
For both projects, all materials were transported into the mountains by rangers and volunteers. National Trust Murlough and Mourne extend their sincere thanks to everyone involved in this challenging but vital work.