Removing Self-Sown Conifers

Seeds of Sitka spruce from nearby plantations had begun to colonise the bog. Conifers cast shade, limiting the light for Sphagnum moss and other bog plants. They also draw water from the peat and lower the water table. Their branches provide perches for predators such as Grey Crows, increasing the risks for ground-nesting birds like Meadow Pipit, Snipe, Curlew and Hen Harrier. Seedlings are pulled by hand. Larger saplings cut with loppers or saws and left on the ground to decay. Removing self-sown conifers restores open, wet conditions, protects wildlife, and supports the recovery of peat-forming vegetation. It is a simple but vital step in bringing the bog back to life.