An Introduction

The Humberhead Peatlands are located in the north of England, UK. They comprise Thorne, Goole, and Crowle Moors, as well as Hatfield Moors and represent the largest area of raised bog wilderness in lowland Britain at 2,887 hectares in size. The site is internationally important, both as an example of a lowland raised mire and for its breeding nightjars. The Humberhead Peatlands are a remnant of a large wetland that occupied the floodplain of the Humberhead Levels thousands of years ago. They have been worked for peat throughout recorded history. The impact of this working has been to leave the remaining area with too varied a water table to allow peat formation. To restore the Peatlands and return them to favourable condition, Natural England and the Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board are undertaking extensive restoration works on Thorne and Hatfield Moors. The project is supported by LIFE+ Nature, which is a financial instrument of the European Union.