ASTLEY ACQUISITION: FINAL PIECE IN THE PUZZLE OF THE BEDFORD AND ASTLEY MOSSES

PURCHASE 4.7HA OF GRADE ONE AGRICULTURAL LAND ON PEAT SOILS THAT IS CURRENTLY SEPARATING TWO SECTIONS OF AN INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT SSSI/SAC RAISED BOG SITE. THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND WILL ALLOW FUTURE RESTORATION MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND TO REWET AND RESTORE IMPORTANT BOG HABITAT AS WELL AS REMOVING EXISTING DRAINS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE SSSI THAT ARE ADVERSLEY AFFECTING THE HYDROLOGY OF THE SSSI BOG HABITAT. THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND WILL REMOVE A BARRIER TO RESTORATION OF THE LAND; CONNECT THE TWO SEPERATED SECTIONS OF THE BOG HABITAT AND HELP TO SAFEGUARD THE HYDROLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE SSSI. X