Newmarket Holidays helps North Pennines peatland restoration
Newmarket Holidays has so far donated £40,000 to the cause, purchasing 15,000 sphagnum and cottongrass plug plants.
These plants are set to revitalise a 154-hectare expanse of severely damaged blanket bog within the North Pennines National Landscape, with staff from the company joining the conservation team to help plant the vegetation.
Peatlands play an essential role in carbon storage, but when degraded, they release large amounts of greenhouse gases.
The travel company’s contribution is expected to prevent the emission of over 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 50 years.
Niel Alobaidi, CEO of Newmarket Holidays, said: “Peatland restoration is a really impactful way of stopping the release of carbon, with degraded peat responsible for a staggering 4 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“It is estimated that restoration of the site we visited will create £2 million of greenhouse gas benefits over the next 50 years.
“We are really pleased to support the continuing restoration of these areas as part of our company-wide Travel For Good strategy.”
The travel company commenced its involvement in the restoration of North Pennines peatlands in 2024, as part of its Travel for Good Strategy.
For every customer who travels with them, £1 is donated to peatland restoration projects.
Mr Alobaidi added: “This is just the start and we will continue to support peatland restoration.
“The more I’ve learned about this project over the past 12 months, the more passionate I am about restoring UK peatland.
“Not only does it immediately reduce carbon emissions, but there are also additional benefits for water quality, flood defences and wildlife conservation.”
Four Newmarket Holidays staff members recently witnessed the impact of their support first-hand by participating in a day of planting at a peatland restoration site.
The North Pennines National Landscape’s Peatland Programme Manager, Paul Leadbitter, said: “We are proactively seeking to work with the private sector to develop partnerships for nature recovery.
“The contribution from Newmarket Holidays is a great example of how we are delivering a type of blended funding model between public funding and private sector support.
“We were really pleased to have Niel and his team in the North Pennines to see their contribution in action, and for them to be actively involved in the restoration work.”
The North Pennines National Landscape, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1988, is renowned for its tranquil, unspoiled landscapes and vibrant natural beauty.
The region is the second-largest of England’s 46 National Landscapes, spanning almost 2,000 square kilometres.
