AN UNMANNED aircraft has captured hundreds of images of Exmoor’s bogs as part of a project which could avoid future water bill increases.

Flying 300m above the ground, the remote-controlled plane took detailed photos of two five-hectare sections of the rare environment near Simonsbath.

The information collected from the aerial survey will enable monitoring of whether the Exmoor Mires Restoration project later in the year will improve water storage in the bogs, which could improve river quality and reduce the cost of water treatment.

Martin Ross, from South West Water, said: “Our Upstream Thinking Project is at the cutting edge of how water is managed in a sustainable way in the UK.

“This unmanned aircraft is going to help us collect evidence which will show whether mire restoration is succeeding in its aims and is an extremely cost-effective way of collecting that data.”

The restoration, run by South West Water with Exmoor National Park Authority, the Environment Agency, Natural England and English Heritage, will involve blocking drainage ditches using sustainable and local materials and rewetting the bogs.

Bogs store water and slow the run-off from land, reducing the amount of sediment entering rivers.

Water carrying less sediment is up to 20% cheaper to treat and restoring the bogs could reduce water bills for house-|

holders, while improving security for the area amid growing concerns of drought.

University of Exeter geographer Dr Karen Anderson said: “We are the first team to survey Exmoor’s blanket peatlands using unmanned vehicles.

“It is very rewarding to be applying my expertise in remote sensing to a project that could have considerable benefits for people and wildlife.”

The survey will also assess whether rewetting the bogs will support more plants, rare insect and animal species.