In the House of Commons Chamber, Richard Holden MP asks about his North West Durham Peatlands.
Richard comments:
"In Parliament, I questioned the Government last week regarding peatland preservation and restoration through the Peatland Code, which is linked here on my website: www.richardholden.org.uk/news/richard-asks-peatlands-question. Per acre, peat can trap up to four times as much carbon as woodland. The North Pennines contain some of the largest areas of peat bog in the country – it makes sense to prioritise protecting and supporting peat restoration, rather than turning over much-needed, great quality agricultural land for the planting of trees. When it comes to reaching our Net Zero targets, our peatlands are a formidable asset in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
"I am also very proud of the great work going on locally in North West Durham. After seeing some projects firsthand in the North Pennines AONB Partnership Area and, having brought Ministers to see some of these projects on the ground in Upper Weardale, this is an issue I will continue to push to help maximise beneficial land use. In sending this letter to you, I hope it goes some way in highlighting the hard work going on down in Westminster as I fight for you and the whole of North West Durham in my capacity as your Member of Parliament. Whether in the constituency or in the Commons, I will continue to push tirelessly for your voices to be not just heard, but listened to."