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

New landscape scale ‘Sustainable Management Scheme’ opens in Wales

March 8, 2016
On the 29th February an Expressions of Interest (EOI) window opened for the Sustainable Management Scheme (SMS); a brand new scheme funded through the Welsh Governments Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The aim of the scheme is to support collaborative landscape-scale projects delivering action to improve our natural resources in a way which delivers benefits to farm and rural businesses and rural communities.

Cumbria BogLIFE share inventive restoration techniques

March 4, 2016
Within the last month, 57 professionals with an interest in peatland restoration have taken part in a series of workshops on lowland raised bog peatland restoration techniques organised by the Cumbria BogLIFE project.* The workshops focussed on site visits to two degraded but contrasting bogs – Roudsea Wood & Mosses Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the south of the county and Bolton Fell Moss SAC in the north east.

Sphagnum restoration trials in the pipeline….

March 3, 2016
The Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) is undertaking Sphagnum spreading trials in Nidderdale. The aim of the trials is to establish the most effective method to promote the growth of vital peat forming Sphagnum moss.

Raising The Standard

February 29, 2016
Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk covers a distance of 190 miles from St. Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. The route is one of the most popular long-distance walks in the country and is packed with stunning scenery as it crosses the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and three National Parks.  

ScottishPower Renewables trial new ‘wave damming’ method: site visit

February 24, 2016
As a follow up to January's IUCN newsletter article, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Peatland ACTION and IUCN UK PP staff visited Black Law wind farm to see ScottishPower Renewables’ new ditch blocking trial.

How do you use the Marches Mosses?

February 24, 2016
Fenn's, Whixall & Bettisfield Moss and Wem Moss (The Marches Mosses) complex is the third largest lowland raised peatbog in the UK and has been the subject of over 20 years restoration by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.

Revitalising natural landscapes can reduce flood risk says the new Chief Executive of the Environment Agency

February 18, 2016
Sir James Bevan is today visiting uplands in the Peak District National Park to see firsthand how the Environment Agency’s investment is supporting the Moors for the Future Partnership in reversing the effects of hundreds of years of industrial pollution and helping to reduce flood risk.

Dryhope 2017
Major milestone in peatland restoration as first blended finance project is verifiedThis month marks a very important milestone for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s Peatland Code, as…
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 Views are being sought from a range of stakeholders who have experience of, or are interested in,…
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…