In the UK our upland landscapes are high, cold, wet places. Waterlogging of soils on these hills has led to conditions that allow peat to form. These upland peatlands are also important water-gathering grounds. Seventy per cent of the UK’s drinking water drains from upland surfaces. Clean water from undeveloped uplands is also important in maintaining ecological health of river systems downstream.
Flows of water from the uplands to the lowlands can have less positive impacts too. Upland catchments are steep, and waterlogged peatland soils generate rapid overland flow. The runoff is typically very ‘flashy’, which means there are rapid rises and falls in river levels in response to rainfall. During large storm events, which appear to be becoming more common owing to climate change, the uplands contribute to flood risk downstream.
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