Career-changer Seeking Opportunities in Environmental Sector in Cumbria, Lancashire, or North Yorkshire | Particular interest in Uplands & Nature-Based Solutions | MSc; FISC level 3; Mountain Leader
🌱"Peatlands, People, and Purpose: Restoring Darwen Moor Together" “I wanted to do something meaningful—something that makes me feel fulfilled with purpose in life,” said one of the volunteers as we knelt, pressing sphagnum moss plugs into the cold, wet peat. It was their first time volunteering with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and their connection to Darwen Moor was deeply personal. After moving to the area a couple of years ago, they’d fallen in love with the open-access moorlands on their doorstep. The desolate beauty of the landscape offered freedom and solace, but they quickly learned how fragile it all is—not just the habitat itself, but the rights to access it. “I feel like I want to give something back, to help look after this place for others,” they told me. Today, we worked together to restore this vital upland peatland. Darwen Moor, like many peatlands, has suffered from wildfires, historical drainage, and exploitation, leaving it dry and degraded. These pressures turn the moors from carbon stores into carbon sources, worsening climate breakdown. Our task was simple yet impactful: plant sphagnum moss plugs—nature’s own architect of peatlands. By reintroducing this remarkable plant, we’re helping to rewet the landscape, building resilience against flooding and wildfire, locking in carbon, and creating habitats for much-loved species like curlew and darter dragonflies. Together, our small group of volunteers planted around 4,000 plugs, each one a step toward reversing centuries of damage. For some, it was the beginning of a deeper connection with nature. For others, it was an opportunity to meet people from their local community while contributing to a shared purpose. Restoration isn’t just about the land; it’s about the people who care for it and the connections they build along the way. Today reminded me how much we can achieve together—with our hands in the soil and our hearts in the work. #PeatlandRestoration #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #DarwenMoor #NetZero
