State of the UK Peatlands



Image: Sphagnum moss, Munsary © Richard Lindsay

State of the UK Peatlands

Scientific Review

The draft review Towards an Assesment of the State of UK Peatlands defines what is meant by peatlands in the UK, and describes issues relating to the definition and mapping of peat and peaty soils and their associated vegetation. The report includes available data and information sources and where possible quantifies the nature of UK peatlands and the extent of our knowledge of peatlands distribution and conditions.

Please note, the views expressed in this review are those of the authors. The IUCN UK Peatland Programme is not responsible for the content of this review and does not necessarily endorse the views contained within.

Review Team

This Review is being led by the Soils, Uplands and Lowland Wetland Lead Co-ordination Network of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

Peatland with mountains in the background
New £3 million fund for peatland restoration in Northern IrelandApplications for the new £3million Peatland Challenge Fund to help protect Northern Ireland's…
Sphagnum moss on healthy peatland
Scotland’s Peatland ACTION programme hits record restoration milestoneFor the first time since the Peatland ACTION programme began, more than 10,000 hectares of damaged…
A cottongrass seedhead
New species showcase - cottongrassOur May species showcase looks at the role that cottongrass plays in peatlands, its cultural and…
Jennifer Fulton at an IUCN UK Peatland Programme conference
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Dotterel (c) Pete Quinn
Conference 2024 tickets now on sale!Tickets for our 2024 conference in Aviemore, 17-19 September, are now on sale - join us to…
Dunlin (c) RSPB
New species showcase - dunlinThe third of our showcases explores the importance of dunlin as an indicator species for peatland…
Landscape view of Red Moss of Balerno
Peatland Code Public Consultation The Peatland Code is committed to continuous improvement and would like to invite you to comment on…
Scientist taking scientific measurements in peatland. Credit Emma Hinchliffe
Please give 10 minutes of your time to help answer the question: Is palaeoecological research utilised in UK peatland restoration projects? Can you complete a short survey on the extent to which palaeoecological research is utilised in UK…
Group of people stood in an open peatland landscape
Muirburn licencing made law in ScotlandScotland’s peatlands will benefit from increased protection due to a new law passed on 21st March…
Molinia Mulching Agglestone Mire, remover higher tussocks to increase the connectivity of the floodplain (c) Sally Wallington
Dorset peatland restorationThe Dorset Peat Partnership completed the first of their sixteen peatland restoration sites in…
Work begins at Duchal Moor. © Giulia Spilotros/Glasgow Green Network Clyde Valley
Council leads the way with major peatland restoration project A three-year project to restore an area of peatland larger than 780 football pitches in Inverclyde…
Eyes on the Bog logo
Funding for Eyes on the Bog users Our Eyes on the Bog Fund aims to support existing Eyes on the Bog users to purchase new equipment,…

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