Latest News

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

Fire threatens return of extinct butterfly

April 19, 2017
Arsonists are believed to be behind the devastation of one of the last few areas of lowland raised bog in Lancashire and put in jeopardy a project to restore a butterfly to the mossland where it has been extinct for more than 50 years.

New £10 million fund to restore peatland

April 14, 2017
A £10 million grant scheme to restore England’s iconic peatlands has been launched by the Government today.

Easter survey reveals the need for faster action on peat-free gardening

April 13, 2017
As the nation’s gardeners prepare for spring, a new survey reveals a lack of real choice for consumers looking for peat-free composts at garden centres and other outlets. It highlights the need for more determined action to phase out peat use from the gardening industry and to protect wild peatlands.

Flow Country Research Hub Newsletter - Winter 2017

April 12, 2017
Please download below.

Scottish Power Renewables Complete Winter Restoration

April 12, 2017
Scottish Power Renewables has just completed their winter peatland restoration programme, which has taken place on several of their sites. During the programme, they rolled out various techniques they'd been developing - testing them across multiple sites and at scale, with the following results:

Looking for scales and warts in the Peak District

April 11, 2017
The public are being asked to be on the lookout for ‘scales and warts’ when they are next out in the Peak District National Park. Moors for the Future Partnership’s Community Science project is collecting sightings of adders, lizards (‘scales’) and toads (‘warts’) – to help find out more about native reptiles and amphibians.

Butterfly Conservation launch new Peatland Restoration project

April 10, 2017
Three lowland raised bogs will be restored as part of Butterfly Conservation Scotland’s new project entitled ‘Lanarkshire’s Large Heaths and Mosses – Restoring Precious Peatlands’.

People grouped together, standing and sitting on a baled crop.
Opportunity to contribute to the understanding of the constraints and opportunities for agricultural lowland peat As part of the Paludiculture Exploration Fund, The National Institute of Agricultural Botany is…
Exterior view of Virtual Peatlands Pavilion showing four large domes in a peat swamp forest
The Virtual Peatlands Pavilion Word Tour continues at Ramsar COP15The next stop for the immersive digital library of peatland resources is Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe,…
Person smiling and pointing at a sign saying '#BeMoreMoss'. Credit Vicky Akerman
Announcing Peat-Fest South-West 2025 – a celebration of our peatland connectionsThe Art and Energy Collective has been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to…
Windfarm on peatland site
National Policy Statements public consultationOpportunity to contribute to public consultation on National Policy Statements to support Clean…
Line of fire being set by a vehicle with people on the back as part of swaling. Credit Heather Lowther (Creative Commons)
Public consultation on heather and grass burning regulations in EnglandThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme has responded to Defra’s proposal to protect a greater extent of…
Cross section of bare peat
New Peat Map for EnglandThis week Natural England published the much anticipated England Peat Map which highlights the…
IUCN World Conservation Congress logo
Peatland motion headed to World Conservation Congress for considerationThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme-led motion to develop a unified definition of peatlands has…
Area of burnt vegetation on national park in Northumberland
A collection of three Natural England reports marks a step change for English peatlandsWe summarise three new reports from Natural England which have important implications for English…
Neolithic trackway on Hatfield Moors. Credit: Henry Chapman Uni of Birmingham
New publication: Tracks and roads on peatlandsThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme are pleased to publish our latest brief focusing on the impacts of…
Peatland landscape showing flux tower and solar panel with a blue sky and hills in the background. Image credit Hollie Cooper, UKCEH
Funding announced for greenhouse gas reduction solutions on peatlandsThe UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is seeking proposals for projects up to £75,000 to advance…
Hare's tail cottongrass on Humberhead levels
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) 7th Carbon Budget Report - a response from IUCN UK Peatland ProgrammeThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcomes this week the publication of the Committee on Climate…
Water vole sitting with blackberries
New species showcase - Water voleContinuing the spotlight on peatland biodiversity, our first Species Showcase of 2025 is the Water…