Moors for the Future

21/10/2026

Since 2017, our Bogtastic van has been a wonderful ambassador for the work of Moors for the Future and the importance of protecting peatlands. Now, as it goes into well-earned retirement, we look back on its achievements:

🚚 880 events visited
🚚 13,500 miles travelled
🚚 22,300 visitors engaged with, including ...
🚚 8,100 under-25s

20/10/2026

We're glad to be working with United Utilities on restoration projects throughout the region, creating the right conditions for water from the moorlands to reach the reservoirs in a cleaner state.

💧 Water quality starts at the top of the hill!

Our catchment teams are restoring eroded peatland across the North West to help improve the quality of the water that reaches our treatment works.

Healthy peatland acts as a natural filter, trapping sediment and absorbing nutrients as rainwater flows through the land. This helps water reach our treatment works in better condition, ready for treatment before it comes out of your tap.

🌿 Peatland restoration also brings benefits for nature. Healthy, moist peat locks in carbon, supports wildlife and helps reduce the risk of wildfires.

We work with local partners, including RSPB and Moors for the Future, to restore these important landscapes and support water quality from source to tap.

16/10/2026

On Saturday, we'll be at the Rock Mill Centre in New Mills for a Moss Day event with New Mills River School. There'll be plenty of fun activities, with boggy doodling, Bogtastic card games, and opportunities to get hands-on with amazing sphagnum moss! Join us there between 11am and 2pm.

12/10/2026

Last night’s edition of the BBC’s Countryfile focused on the moving story of the archaeological dig to recover a missing US airman and the fascinating stories behind it. It also talked about how Moors for the Future are working with Yorkshire Water and Geoscope to ensure the site can be brought back to life when the archaeological work is complete.

You can watch the episode now on BBC IPlayer. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0032x2r/countryfile-south-pennines

11/10/2026

Catch us on Countryfile at 17:40 this evening (Sunday 11th) to find out more about the archaeological dig to recover a missing US airman and the fascinating stories behind it. Learn how peat can preserve the stories of our past and how and why we need to protect it for the future.

10/10/2026

Corporal Clarence Steele Howard was the only US airman unaccounted for following the high moorland crash of the B-24H aircraft leaving his family and small rural community in West Point, California without closure.

Lives also lost in the crash included 1st Lt Elmer D. Pitsenbarger, F/O Jack M. Bliss, T/Sgt Presley E. Farris, Cpl Charles T. Lowblad, 2nd Lt James D. Nendel, S/Sgt Frank A. Villelli and T/Sgt Joseph W. Zwinge Jr (Cpl Watson’s school friend). F/O Frank Cser – Bombardier later died of his injuries leaving S/Sgt Curtis Anderson as the sole survivor.

Moors for the Future has collaborated closely with Geoscope and Natural England on this sensitive archaeological investigation and restoring the war grave. Following the damage from the air crash, the Yorkshire Water owned land at Holme Moss has remained vulnerable so work will be done to stabilise the peat and help it recover as a functioning ecosystem.

09/10/2026

On this day, 82 years ago a B-24H aircraft crashed into a hillside in the Peak District during a training flight in poor weather. Of the ten men on board, one survived and one is still missing. UK-based forensic archaeology specialist, Geoscope has this month been working to recover evidence locating Corporal Clarence Watson in the crash, funded by the US military.

The project marks nearly a decade of partnership working and coordination to make the dig happen and set a plan for restoring this war grave to help the landscape recover.

08/10/2026

Normally we work at landscape scale when doing moorland restoration. Tomorrow we’re sharing an unfolding story about peat, land and people that’s a little different.

08/10/2026

Join us this Saturday at the Moorland Centre in Edale as we say farewell to the Bogtastic van. After nearly a decade of touring the Peak District and South Pennines it’s time to hang up the keys – don’t miss your chance to say goodbye.

We’re looking forward to some fun moorland themed activities and joined by so bring your small job outdoor clothing repairs for drop-in mending, or enquire about bigger repairs. See you there from 10AM to 3PM, Saturday 10th October, S33 7ZA. Accessible by train, parking at Edale Car Park HPBC

Photo of Becky of Sheffield Clothing Repairs taken by Dylan Schwartz ()

06/10/2026

Observations after the wildfire earlier this year from our science team visiting Snake Summit, here comparing areas of peat burnt over in a recent wildfire, to the an area not touched by the fire.

The hydrophobic burnt peat creates a smooth surface, which rainwater here is not able to soak into and so water flows over, worsening erosion and potentially leading to higher stormflow (heavy water runoff that causes levels to rise above stable conditions) in the streams and rivers.

While the rain has returned and some vegetation including grasses can be seen, it will take years for the peatland to become stable and for a diverse mosaic of peatland specialist vegetation to return. Long-term monitoring of fire damaged peat is essential to reveal how the landscape is impacted by fire.