§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the agreement to safeguard the nature conservation interest of Glasson Moss, Wedholme Flow, Thorne and Hatfield Moors and Shapwick Heath and Westhay Moor in the Somerset levels by Fisons plc and English Nature.
§ Mr. HeseltinePeat has been extracted from most of these sites under planning permissions given in the 1940s and 1950s, and could legitimately have continued well into the next century. The agreement provides for all of Fisons' freehold interests in these sites to be handed over at no cost to English Nature for management of the nature conservation interest. These include some of the most valuable peat sites in England.
Of the 8,000 acres involved, the 2,800 acres on which vegetation exists will be managed immediately by English Nature for nature conservation purposes and Fisons will assist them by blocking off drains and other measures to secure the hydrological integrity of the areas. Where lowland peatbog sites have already been affected by modern working, there is no conservation reason to prevent further extraction provided conditions for the eventual rehabilitation of the sites are met. It is for this reason that English Nature has agreed that peat extraction under licence from them may continue at most of the other sites—but on condition that this will only take place in ways that minimise the further effects on undisturbed peat and allow restoration when extraction ceases.
As peat extraction is completed, leaving behind an average depth of a half metre of peat to aid regeneration, these areas will gradually be transferred to English Nature management, and Fisons will assist with restoration for conservation after-use. In addition current research funded by Fisons into peatland regeneration will continue. This will complement research undertaken by my own Department into this subject.
This agreement is a considerable achievement. Taken together with the acquisition by the Nature Conservancy Council of the Fenns Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses, it demonstrates the positive steps being taken to conserve the major lowland peat bog sites in England.