Peat bogs help combat climate change. They lock away carbon for the health of our planet, they help prevent flooding, and support lots of plants and animals. That’s why we're asking everyone to vote for the peat bogs at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve in an international competition that runs from 26 March to 9 April.

Michelle Waller, Senior Development Officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust explains more: “We’re delighted that Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve has been shortlisted by the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) in their international competition for funding. Members of the public are now being asked to vote for the winner and we’d love all Cumbrians to vote for Foulshaw Moss.

“Lots of people know about the famous ospreys who return to breed here each summer – but there’s a lot more to Foulshaw Moss, making it a very special place. It’s also an important habitat for red deer, rare dragonflies, and many birds. At 350 hectares, it provides vital links to neighbouring and nearby peatlands, allowing species to move around. We’ve been restoring the fantastic peatlands here for 28 years – it’s vital work as healthy bogs capture and lock away CO2, so that it doesn’t leak back into the atmosphere. Healthy peatlands are the UK’s largest carbon store – they store 28.5 million tonnes of CO2 in the Lake District alone!”

Michelle explains how you can help Foulshaw Moss win £23,950 from EOCA, so that the Trust can continue to keep the Foulshaw Moss bogs in a healthy condition: “Being shortlisted for this award, we’re alongside some other really impressive environmental projects from all over the world, from Kenya and Argentina to the Czech Republic! The public can now vote for which shortlisted project they want to receive the money. Wouldn’t it be great if a Cumbrian wildlife project could win? You have till midday on 9 April to vote and I urge you to vote today for Foulshaw Moss, to help us protect these precious peatlands for generations to come ”

Public voting runs from 26 March to midday on 9 April.

There are three categories of shortlisted projects in the EOCA Award: Forest, Water and Wild Spaces. You can vote for one project in each category. Foulshaw Moss is in the Wild Spaces category.

Michelle explains how Cumbria Wildlife Trust will spend the money if it wins the award: “We’ll remove invasive plants, such as rhododendron and western hemlock, from 75ha of Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, create new habitat and improve existing areas, so that the peat holds more water and protects the existing bogs. We’ll also do outreach work with the public, share information with the 15,000 people who visit the nature reserve each year and make it possible for 300 local school children to visit Foulshaw Moss, to  get close to nature and to learn about this important habitat.”

Vote today!