Border Mires

Border Mires is a group of around 60 peat bogs straddling Cumberland and Northumberland, in and around the Kielder Forest.[1]  It is part of what was once the largest continuous tract of blanket bogs across northern England and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), designation number UK0012923.[2]

The largest of these peat bogs are:[3]

The remaining bogs have an average area of 32 hectares with the smallest, Muckle Gowany Knowe, only 1.8 hectares.

Eight of the bogs are a Ramsar site, ‘Irthinghead Mires’ (site 303, designated in 1985):[4]

  • Butterburn Flow
  • Coom Rigg Moss
  • Felicia Moss
  • Gowany Knowe
  • Grains Heads Moss
  • Haining Head Moss
  • Hummel Knowe Moss
  • The Wou

Many of the bogs sit within their own, or wider Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).  These SSSI sites are:

Restoration

The restoration of the Border Mires is one of the earliest and longest-running conservation projects in the UK.[3][8]  Early conservation and restoration work commenced in 1971 with the blocking of drains to help re-wet bog areas.  This work was extended over the following decades and continues actively to this day.  As well as protecting and improving the existing peat bogs, Forestry England has removed thousands of trees to re-establish bogs that had been lost through afforestation.[9][10][11][12]  In addition to blocking drains and felling/mulching trees, a significant number of wader ponds have also been created to encourage birds to return to the area.[8]

Since 1986 restoration has been overseen by the Border Mires Management Committee, which comprises Forestry England, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Ministry of Defence, Northumberland National Park Authority and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.[8]

References

  1. ^ Smith, Roger S.; Lunn, Angus G.; Newson, Malcolm D. (1995-11-01). "The Border Mires in Kielder Forest: A review of their ecology and conservation management". Forest Ecology and Management. Kielder-The Ecology of a Man-Made Spruce Forest. 79 (1): 47–61. doi:10.1016/0378-1127(95)03621-0. ISSN 0378-1127.
  2. ^ "Border Mires, Kielder - Butterburn - Special Areas of Conservation". sac.jncc.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  3. ^ a b Lunn, Angus; Burlton, Bill (2010). "The Border Mires: a conservation history" (PDF). www.nwt.org.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Irthinghead Mires | Ramsar Sites Information Service". rsis.ramsar.org. Archived from the original on 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  5. ^ "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  6. ^ "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  7. ^ "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  8. ^ a b c "Peatland restoration in Northumberland | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  9. ^ Wainwright, Martin (2009-08-12). "Restored Border Mires bog brings floods of joy for wildlife". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  10. ^ "Climate change: Border Mires 'tree mulchers' aid bog restoration". BBC News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  11. ^ "Border Mires bog restoration to aid climate change fight". BBC News. 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  12. ^ "£1m pledged for historic Border Mires". www.ncl.ac.uk. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
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