Event shows it's rooted in its rural community

THERE will be plenty of plugs for a County Durham music festival this summer.

- TONY HENDERSON

Organisers of the two-day Stanhope Weekender in Weardale have donated funds to the North Pennines National Landscape team's peatland programme. This has financed 2,000 sphagnum plug plants to restore degraded peatland.

Festival co-founders Sean Stembridge and Lewis Maddison say their support fort in the peatland restoration work is part of their commitment to reduce the environmental impact of the family festival, which takes place on July 4 and 5.

Lewis said: "It's important to us that the Stanhope Weekender stands for more than just great music and good times. Supporting local restoration work shows what's possible when events and nature work together for a better future."

Peatlands are a globally significant habitat that store vast quantities of carbon but when damaged, carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere.

Planting sphagnum is a key part of the restoration process as the plant thrives in wet areas and can hold a large amount of water. Reintroducing the sphagnum on to the peatland enhances the biodiversity of the area, slows down the erosion of the peatland and reduces the risk of flooding downstream.