Whenever there is a heavy spate the effect is to expose large areas of raw peat to sudden rainfall, and what were moderately peaty rivers become extremely sour peaty rivers.
It is this burning and grazing that has changed what was originally a good forest brown earth soil into the black peaty soil that we have today.
The wearing away of peaty soils once they are exposed to the air and when they come under cultivation is an aspect which has largely been overlooked.
The problems derive from an inheritance of many upland reservoir sources of soft peaty water with inadequate provision of treatment facilities to remove colour.
About a quarter of the acreage consisted of very wet, peaty ground.
In my view, we still have a lot to learn about the right fertilisers to use on peaty land.
It is shallow peaty land with a hard pan underneath it.
I understand, however, that, when consulted, some advisers recommend plastic pipes in peaty soils because of their longer length and firm jointing.
