Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to improve the quality of peatland, moorland or lowland raised bog habitats by blocking ditches or moor grips with peat dams to slow the flow of water through grips or ditches and raise the water table back to natural levels.

It is important that all drains within the hydrological unit are blocked.

Any land with moorland or lowland bog or fen is eligible.

You must combine this capital item with one of the following management options, unless you have prior approval otherwise from NatureScot:

• Lowland Bog Management
• Moorland Management
• Wetland Management

You must prepare a ditch blocking plan.

You must identify the number and location of all proposed new dams on a map and record the widths of all ditches you propose to dam.

All the ditch blocking must be completed by year two of the contract.

If you apply for Ditch Blocking for peatland restoration you will need approval from your planning authority, under the Prior Notification and Prior Approval process.

• each individual peat dam must be watertight
• dams must be no more than 30 metres apart and ideally placed every 15 metres
• you must replace any cut turfs on the dam top with the vegetation side up
• you must record the location of each created dam on a map
• you must maintain a diary

You can claim £13.00 per peat dam, with a minimum payment of £300.

You may apply for payment on an actual cost basis for this item if the work you are proposing to carry out will benefit the notified features of a designated site, and where there are exceptional circumstances.

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• that each individual peat dam is watertight
• dams are no more than 30 metres apart
• you have replaced any cut turfs on the dam top with the vegetation side up
• you have recorded the location of each created dam on a map
• you have maintained a diary

Supporting guidance is available for this item.

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