A moorland partnership which works to protect priority international habitats in the Peak District and South Pennines, has received €16 million (£11.8 million) to deliver the MoorLIFE 2020 project.
The Moors for the Future Partnership, which is supported by the Environment Agency, Natural England and the RSPB among others, has been working to protect the most degraded landscape in Europe since 2003.
This grant includes €12 million (£8.8 million) from the EU’s LIFE fund, which supports environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects throughout Europe, and is the largest award ever given to a UK-based project.
The remaining €4 million (£2.9 million) comes from contributions from the partners of the Moors for the Future Partnership which includes Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water.
Sarah Fowler, chief executive of the Peak District National Park said: "This is a massive vote of confidence in our work in the Peak District and South Pennines. The project will deliver landscape scale works as well as leading the way in researching and developing innovative techniques to protect and understand these fantastic places.
"We are really grateful for the match-funding from the water companies, which has allowed this project to take place and demonstrates the significance of these important Sites of Special Scientific Interest in protecting and providing drinking water."
The €16 million will enable the partnership to continue the progress it has made over the last 12 years and expand its work vastly, protecting the integrity of 9,500 hectares (23,475 acres) of active blanket bog through re-vegetating bare peat, improving hydrology and diversifying existing vegetation.
Other benefits of the moorland restoration project include enriching biodiversity by providing breeding habitats for moorland plants, birds, insects, mammals and amphibians, as well as improving water quality in our reservoirs and rivers as less sediment pours into streams.
Karmenu Vella, European commissioner for the environment, maritime affairs and fisheries said: "History shows us that it is money well spent. Every LIFE project is focusing on key habitats of key species.
