National Trust Manor House Farm Restoration Project
15th of July, 2024
Later on this year, National Trust, in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust, will be undertaking a lowland peatland restoration project on the farmland that National Trust own to the east of Rufford Old Hall (See attached map for site location).
In January 2025, significant work will begin at Manor House Farm to re-wet the currently drained grassland, creating a wet grassland habitat and restoring the important peat beneath the surface.
The National Trust and Manor House Farm
The National Trust owns 69 acres of farmland on what was previously Manor House Farm, east of Rufford Old Hall, between the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Douglas. This area of land was acquired by the National Trust in 2000 to protect the views and settings of the Hall.
Recent surveys show a significant amount of peat across the site, over 5 metres deep in places. Currently water is pumped away from the land via a drainage network, drying out the existing peat causing it to breakdown and stopping new peat from forming.
What work will be carried out onsite?
Work to create the conditions that will allow a wet grassland habitat to develop and restore vital peat is due to start January 2025 and be completed by Spring 2025. A variety of techniques will be used in order to rewet the area. Existing ditches will be reprofiled in strategic places to encourage water to spill out on to the fields and weirs installed to reduce water flow and loss of water across the site.
Ditch blocks will be installed to hold water on site during drier periods, preventing the drying out and erosion of peat. A new ditch will be created to the west of the site acting as a ‘header ditch’ and new ditch crossings formed to improve access across the area. Several wet grassland species will be planted, boosting biodiversity and providing places for wildlife to breed, nest, feed, and shelter.
Interpretation boards will be installed detailing the project.
Potential to be an archaeological site?
In February 2023 a historic environment assessment was carried out on the land at Manor House Farm. The results revealed areas of high and moderate potential for archaeological importance due to pre-historic and medieval remains found nearby. There were also cropmarks found in the southern half of the Manor House Farm site that indicate a possible enclosure.
These results have added to the importance of re-wetting the land as peat has the potential to contain an archaeological record of past local environmental conditions and can also preserve archaeological remains.
Parish Council Involvement
The parish council listened to a presentation at the Parish Council Meeting on 15th July 2024, conducted by Kate Martin, the Lead Ranger for Formby and Central Lancashire properties.
Questions were raised by the parish council and members of the public who were present.
If anyone wishes to find out further information and ask questions, there is a session run by the National Trust on Sunday 4th August 2024, 1pm - 4pm held at Rufford Old Hall. The admission into the hall is free.
Poster