Supporting large-scale peatland restoration.
Funding Circle has partnered with the UK National Parks to support large-scale peatland restoration, starting with restoring one of the UK’s most important natural carbon stores at the heart of the Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Northumberland National Park.
The partnership will initially support the restoration of 11 hectares of degraded peatland at Greenlee Lough, contributing to the wider Hadrian’s Wall Wetlands Landscape Recovery Project spanning 4,430 hectares across the landscape.
Peatlands are one of the UK’s most important natural carbon stores, yet many have been historically drained or degraded. Within UK National Parks alone, peat soils store an estimated 119 million tonnes of carbon.
When damaged, peatlands release carbon into the atmosphere, lose their ability to regulate water effectively and become less able to support biodiversity and climate resilience.
Greenlee Lough and its surrounding landscapes are internationally significant, designated as a Special Area of Conservation, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and National Nature Reserve. However, parts of the site require restoration to recover natural hydrological function and strengthen ecological resilience.
This partnership will support practical, landscape-scale peatland restoration at Greenlee Lough in Northumberland National Park. Restoration works will help re-wet peat soils, restore natural water flows and reconnect fragmented habitats.
Hydrological mapping across the site has identified 538 ditch blocks requiring restoration. Works will include installing peat dams, reprofiling grips and rebuilding functioning peat bog systems capable of storing carbon, improving water quality and supporting rare wetland wildlife.
The project forms part of the wider Hadrian’s Wall Wetlands Landscape Recovery Project, which aims to act as an exemplar for long-term, locally led, landscape-scale nature recovery.
Healthy peatlands play a critical role in supporting resilient landscapes, thriving communities and long-term environmental recovery.
By restoring nature at scale, this partnership will help safeguard an internationally important landscape while delivering measurable benefits for biodiversity, water systems and climate resilience. Long-term monitoring will track water levels, biodiversity and carbon outcomes to ensure measurable impact over time.
Funding Circle (LSE: FCH) is the UK’s leading SME finance platform. Since 2010, we have extended more than £17bn in credit to over 125,000 UK businesses, helping them power the economy and their communities.
By combining proprietary AI-powered credit models with a human touch, we provide a seamless experience that allows SMEs to borrow, pay later, and spend through a single ecosystem. For institutional investors, Funding Circle offers access to an attractive, underserved asset class through a platform built on deep data and a proven track record of robust returns.
National Parks Partnership works with leading organisations to deliver nature recovery, social impact and climate action at national scale.
Through a partnerships spanning a few to all fifteen UK National Parks, we help businesses move from ambition to demonstrating real and measurable impact.
Whether you are exploring your first partnership, or looking to deepen existing commitments as part of a wider partnerships portfolio, our team will work with you to shape a partnership aligned to your organisation’s goals, governance and reporting needs.
Share a few details below and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss partnership opportunities across the UK National Parks.
Partnering with the National Parks brings our technology together with on-the-ground initiatives to make a real impact.
Importantly, our research not only shows that people want to engage more with nature, but that they expect businesses to play their part too, so we are proud to help meet that challenge.
Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree
