Weatherwatch: wildfires highlight importance of UK's peatlands

Moorland plants fulfil a vital role by locking away huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphereThe wildfires in Lancashire and Greater Manchester are a disaster, not least because of the blot on the landscape they will leave behind once the flames are out. Although the hot dry weather is clearly to blame, so too is damage over the years from drainage that dried out the peat and turned it into a powder keg.Peatlands may not look glamorous but they are a hugely important national treasure. They help prevent floods by soaking up rain like a sponge, and can hold about 20 times their own weight in water. And more than 70% of Britain's drinking water comes from peatlands, feeding into supplies for 28 million people. Continue reading...