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The IUCN UK Peatland Programme advocates the multiple benefits of peatlands through partnerships, strong science, sound policy and effective practice.

Desmids of peatlands © Emma Goodyer

Latest News

Knowledge exchange – sharing LIFE in Finland

October 31, 2018
The IUCN Peatland Programme was delighted to join Pennine PeatLIFE, UK and Hydrology LIFE, Finland on the return leg of their LIFE exchange programme.

Dryhope peatland restoration work wins ‘Enhancing our Environment Award’

October 31, 2018
Dryhope farm in the Yarrow Valley in the Scottish Borders, is part of Philiphaugh Estates which recently won an award (in collaboration with Tweed Forum) at the Scottish Land and Estates ‘Helping it Happen’ event in Edinburgh.

Humble peatlands save the UK £millions

September 26, 2018
The hugely important role our peatlands play in maintaining clean drinking water, reducing flood impact and storing carbon is worth £millions every year. This, along with other public benefits peatlands provide, will be highlighted at a conference at Loch Lomond from 2-4th October.

Bogs have secrets

August 29, 2018
When the Cairngorms Peatland Action Project Officers were invited to take a look at an “interesting” bog they didn’t quite know what to expect.

The Peatbog Trows - Drama on the Bog

August 24, 2018
Sue White, Peatland Restoration Project Officer at Shetland Amenity Trust, writes: Most of Shetland’s hill are cloaked in blanket bog; in fact about half of Shetland is covered in peat. In general, though, local folk who drive by the hills every day have been unaware of the importance of the habitat. Shetland does, however, have a rich cultural tradition and the peaty hills, music inspired by the landscape, and tales of mysterious beings that co-habit the islands are all part of that. As peatland ecologists, we are all aware of the range of ecosytems services that peatlands provide, but what about their value as a resource for inspiring the imagination and telling stories?

Glenfeshie trials new peatland restoration technique

July 26, 2018
Contractors Barker & Bland from Cumbria started this week on peatland restoration work on an upland blanket bog in Glenfeshie Estate in the Cairngorms National Park.

Response to The Times: There are more fires to come on mismanaged moors

July 18, 2018
Robin Page’s article ‘There are more fires to come on mismanaged moors’ does a disservice to the farmers, sporting estates and conservation bodies who understand the need to look beyond heather burning and consider what lies beneath the moor.

Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in an urban landscape
New Virtual Peatland Pavilion launched for COP29To raise awareness of the global importance of peatlands during COP29, the latest pavilion has been…
Cover image for 'The most important plant in the world' showing the film's title in yellow text over a background of Sphagnum moss
Specially commissioned film celebrates 'The most important plant in the world'The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has commissioned the first in a series of short films, celebrating…
Cumbrian tarn - large body of water with emergent vegetation and hills in the distance. Image credit Steve Hewert.
Launch of the Peatland Code Version 2.1The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has launched a new update to the Peatland Code, which helps to boost…
Flat peatland landscape on fire with large plumes of smoke. Image credit Paul Turner
New brief highlights the importance of peatland rewetting for wildfire resilienceThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme's latest publication explores recent evidence from the UK and North…
Painting of a river in spate: Peter Graham 1866, 'A spate in the highlands'
Call for proposals for Water Research Seminar SeriesThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and the Environment Agency are delighted to announce a series of…
'Work in progress' sign with a digger on it next to two photographs of children drawing on large sheets of paper
The Power of the Peat Bogs! How pupils turned their environmental education into a song Primary school pupils who have engaged with a project to restore ancient peatland and traditional…
SWPP award
South West Peatland Partnership awarded gold by Global Good AwardsThe South West Peatland Partnership won a Gold award at the Global Good Awards for their work…
Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in a desert landscape
Seeking content for the COP29 Virtual Peatland PavilionThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and Global Peatlands Initiative are seeking new content for an…
UK Peatland Strategy
New report celebrates UK peatland restoration – but climate and nature targets still at riskAnalysis reveals 250,000 hectares of peatland restoration activity over 30 years – way short of the…
Peatland at Inshriach, Allt a’ Mharcaidh
Largest ever gathering of UK peatland experts to celebrate ‘Peatlands, People and Nature’ in the Cairngorms National ParkAviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is to play host to the UK’s largest gathering of peatland…
Landscape of mountains and forest
View the full programme for #PeatConf24 and book your tickets now!The full programme for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme 2024 conference ‘Peatlands, People and Nature…
CivTech in white writing with blue background and outlines of scales, lightbulb and book
CivTech challenge invites ideas for Peatland Code and Woodland Carbon CodeProposals are being invited for the Scottish Government's CivTech Challenge 10.6 to use technology…