Festival co-founders purchase 2000 plants to restore peatland
STANHOPE Weekender festival co-founders have donated funds to purchase plug plants to restore
peatland in the North Pennines National Landscape.
Thanks to the donation from festival organisers Sean Stembridge and Lewis Maddison, the North
Pennines National Landscape team’s peatland programme has planted 2000 sphagnum plug plants
to restore degraded peatland. Sean and Lewis’s involvement in the peatland restoration work is part
of their commitment to reduce the environmental impact of the festival.
They recently joined a field officer from the North Pennines team at a restoration site to see the
result of their contribution and learn more about the ongoing restoration work, which is critical for
protecting the planet.
Peatlands are a globally significant habitat which 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. Sphagnum thrives in wet areas and can hold a large amount of water.
Reintroducing the sphagnum onto the peatland enhances the biodiversity of the area, slows down
the erosion of the peatland and reduces the risk of flooding downstream.
Sean Stembridge, co-founder said: “Our event is deeply rooted in this landscape. The North
Pennines National Landscape has almost 30% of England’s blanket bog peatland and we’re proud to
play a small part in protecting it. This isn’t just about offsetting our footprint—it’s about leaving a
positive legacy in the area we call home.”
Lewis Maddison, co-founder 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.”
Paul Leadbitter, Peatland Programme Manager of the North Pennines National Landscape said:
“We are really pleased to have Stanhope locals Lewis and Sean involved in our peatland restoration
work. Gaining support from the private sector through green finance helps our team’s peatland
programme to carry out the restoration work at a landscape-scale. We look forward to working with
the festival organisers again in the future.”
