Peatland restoration work on Snaefell, the Isle of Man’s only mountain, has largely involved reprofiling peat hags to reduce erosion. Research into the long history of peat cutting in this area has highlighted the cultural importance of peatlands on the Island and has helped identify the remnant features still visible in the landscape, such as old cart tracks.
Unearthing the history of the site has engaged local interest in the project and enabled a better understanding of the current condition of the habitats present. Peat hags on this site were largely the result of domestic cutting for fuel, which is now banned. One of the main challenges is retaining water on this fairly steep site. Coir logs have been used to slow the flow, as much of the cutting is down to the mineral layer, and small pools have been created where the peat is deep enough.
