A recent Guardian (12th May 2025) article “Mapping finds 80% of England’s peatlands dry and degraded“, highlighted a new mapping initiative by scientists using satellite imagery and AI to create a comprehensive map of England’s peatlands, detailing their extent, depth, and condition.

This new data, the first of its kind for England, reveals that while peatlands cover about 8.5% of the country, a concerning 80% are currently dry and degraded. Healthy peatlands are crucial for combating climate change, reducing flooding, and supporting biodiversity, but their degraded state leads to increased carbon emissions.

The map highlights that only a small percentage of England’s peatlands are covered by vital peat-forming plants like sphagnum moss, indicating the scale of their deterioration. This mapping is seen as a crucial first step towards understanding the carbon storage and release potential of these vital habitats.

The online map, produced by The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, shows that we have some of the deepest peat in the country here, yet Cubico still plan to dig up thousands of tonnes to “Save the Planet”. The map full interactive map can be found here.