This is one reason why peatlands are so common in in the cool and wet climate of Cumbria, which holds 31,000 hectares of blanket bog alone. Most peatlands grow so thick that they are actually above the water table and therefore only receive their water from rainfall.
However, this process is extremely slow with most peatlands only growing 0.5-1 mm a year, meaning that it can take over 1,000 years to make 1 m of peat! Some peatlands found in Cumbria are up to 10 m deep, showing just how long these habitats have been around.
Peatlands are made up of decaying plant material, however due to the waterlogged conditions that mean there is a lack of oxygen in the soil, the plant material cannot rot and therefore builds up into a thick layer of peat.
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