Wetland Pipes: Bog, Mire and Wetland Restoration

	Wetland water pipes at Rowbarrow

The New Forest’s valley mires and seepage step mires are internationally important wildlife habitats that, perhaps surprisingly, are often drier now than in days gone by.

Relatively small scale drainage has been undertaken in the New Forest for generations, but more significantly so in relatively recent times. Witness the many drainage channels that cut across the heaths and through woodland inclosures, and look, too, for evidence of stream straightening, widening and deepening, designed to carry water away faster, and without overspill.

In fact, in the last 50 years, or so, around half of the New Forest’s mires have shrunk in size and depth, whilst many also exhibit reduced habitat quality.

The water pipes have been installed as part of a restoration programme undertaken under the auspices of the New Forest LIFE 2 and LIFE 3 projects, and are designed to slow the flow of water out of the mires, encouraging the mires to back-up, deepen and spread laterally across formerly occupied areas.

The pipes replaced deep outflow channels, and now ensure a slow, steady seepage, rather than a rushing torrent.

Notice, too, small dams made of planks, willow brushwood or heather that have also been installed across outflow channels to impede the flow of water.

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