Conference 2025

IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference 2025

‘Water Connections: from Source to Sea’

30th September – 2nd October 2025 in Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Our annual conference series provides a valuable convening function for the UK peatland community to share knowledge, enthusiasm and experience and seek solutions to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. We bring together everyone with an interest in these unique and precious habitats, from land managers, policy makers and businesses to restoration practitioners, creatives and scientists.

Our 2025 conference is being delivered as part of Northern Ireland Environment Link annual Environment Week, which has a peatland focus this year. This is an exciting time for peatlands in Northern Ireland, with progress now being made towards a national Peatland Strategy, the first Peatland Code projects now registered, and restoration starting to upscale.

The conference takes us to the Ebrington Hotel in the old walled city of Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland. In our venue on the banks of the River Foyle and in visits to diverse peatlands across the region, we’ll be exploring the theme ‘Water Connections: from Source to Sea’. We’ll explore the deep cultural associations and sense of identity connected to peatlands in Northern Ireland, and policy drivers reflecting changing attitudes to peatland management. We’ll also examine the importance of water in these landscapes and the role of peatlands at catchment scale as a nature-based solution.

To make our conferences as inclusive and accessible as we can, we’re using a hybrid format, with remote attendance available for our plenary sessions on 30th September.

What to expect

~300 delegates at this year’s hybrid event. In-person delegates will be able to join the entire event or individual days, and online delegates will be able to join our plenary sessions on the 30th September only.

Exhibition and networking opportunities at our evening poster session and meal on 30th September, our evening conference dinner on 1st October, and throughout the event.

Visits to locally important peatland sites on 1st October, including options from a range of peatland habitats, and experience of different management and restoration techniques first-hand in a beautiful landscape.

Deep-dives into a range of themed topics at our workshop and knowledge-sharing sessions on 2nd October.

Programme outline

Tuesday 30th September

Plenary sessions introducing the work of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, Northern Ireland’s progress towards a national Peatland Strategy and the cultural history of Northern Ireland’s peatlands. We’ll also feature a water research panel discussion and showcase peatlands from around the world in our Virtual Peatlands Pavilion.

Evening meal and poster session featuring contributions from across the peatland community, alongside our dedicated exhibition space for partners and sponsors.

Wednesday 1st October

Choose from a variety of field trip options to local peatland sites, featuring different peatland habitats, management and restoration techniques and introducing a range of organisations involved in peatland management. Lunch and transport will be provided from the main conference venue and delegates will be required to select field trips in advance on a first come, first served basis.

Conference dinner, networking and evening entertainment.

Thursday 2nd October

Choose one morning and one afternoon workshop or knowledge-sharing session from a range of themes. Delegates will be required to select workshops in advance on a first come, first served basis.

Plenary session reflecting on findings from the conference with representatives from across the UK.

Booking

Tickets will be released in April and announced on our website and social media channels. Field visits and workshops must be booked in advance of the conference on a first come, first served basis. Once you have purchased your ticket, you will be informed as soon as the full programme of field visits and workshops is available and open for bookings.

Sponsorship and exhibition space

The Peatland Programme is a non-profit organisation and our conferences are only possible thanks to the support of our dedicated partners and sponsors. This year’s venue features dedicated exhibition space, and we are currently seeking sponsors to showcase their work by supporting the conference financially. If you are interested in supporting us this year, please contact info@iucn.org.uk.

Further information

Further announcements will be made on our website, social media channels, and in our quarterly newsletters. If you have any questions about our conference, or are interested in contributing to and/or sponsoring the event, please contact info@iucn.org.uk.