Land the size of 168 football pitches has been re-wetted at RSPB Lakenheath Fen nature reserve near Brandon, Suffolk using a network of dams.

The team also retained rainfall and used ditches, water-control sluices and a water pump with a winter abstraction licence to draw water from a drainage ditch.

It is hoped that restoring dried-out peatland will benefit threatened bird species such as lapwing, redshank and oystercatcher.

Peatland stores carbon but draining it for agriculture releases this carbon in the form of carbon dioxide.

The wetlands at Lakenheath Fen are now 'brimming with potential' thanks to the re-wetting. (Image: Dave Rogers)

The rewetting will help threatened wildlife. Pictured, a Redshank Tringa totanus, in breeding plumage, Geltsdale RSPB reserve, Cumbria. (Image: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com))

Re-wetting these artificially drained peat soils can stop this release of carbon dioxide.

Nature Reserve Manager Dave Rogers said: “These peaty soils will all be lost in the Fens in the next 50 years unless we re-wet them.

“Their benefit to us and wildlife is huge.

“They are brimming with potential to help threatened wildlife and are a natural solution for storing carbon; so, it’s a win-win all round.

“By taking this action for nature and through careful long-term management of the newly re-wetted land by our staff and volunteers, we know it’s just a matter of time until we see threatened wildlife species reappear here – and indeed the red-listed lapwing that has already been seen on the peatland has proven that point.

“The reserve will work hard to boost population numbers by providing a protected a place for these species to live, feed and breed in.

“And we can’t wait to see it!”

Much of the peatland that make up the wider area of the Fens in East Anglia was drained over the last 400 years to create farmland, with less than 2% of the original 400,000 hectares of wetland remaining.

The RSPB said the recreation of wetland, like the re-wetted land at RSPB Lakenheath Fen, will be key in helping to ensure that rare species thrive and survive.

The charity hopes that more land can be purchased and restored in this way at RSPB Lakenheath Fen in future to benefit wildlife and continue to help in the fight against climate change.

© Eastern Daily Press