ÎÞÂ붯»­

Peat farming experts gather for major knowledge exchange events

Posted 5 December

Experts in farming and managing lowland agricultural peat have gathered at ÎÞÂ붯»­ to exchange ideas, research and knowledge at a series of events. 

The University has been establishing the first UK centre for the study of rewetted peat farming – known as paludiculture – since 2023, receiving a share of a £5 million UK Government fund aimed at solving challenges with lowland peat, known as the Paludiculture Exploration Fund. 

Peat soils are highly productive and around 75% per cent of lowland peat in England is farmed.  

However, as peatlands are drained and cultivated for farming, the peat oxidises, which leads to the decomposition of organic matter, resulting in increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Re-wetting peat has the potential to balance GHG emissions and to protect carbon stocks. The Paludiculture Innovation Project (PIP), based at the University, has held a range of knowledge exchange events for farmers, academics, students, organisations, businesses and more, aimed at opening the discussion on how these issues may be tackled. 

The second of a series of annual symposia and conferences were held this month – starting with the PIP Conference. 

At this, Peatland Programme Manager from the North Pennines National Landscape Paul Leadbitter talked about how the significant habitat restoration his team worked on was carried out. He also highlighted how continuous collaborations between partners led to the success of the Great North Bog project.  Speaking before his talk, he said: “I will be talking a small peatland project and, over the years, developed it into one of the biggest in the UK. The talk takes you from cradle to spade, with the tricks of the trade!” 

Following this keynote speech, in which Mr Leadbitter discussed both the mechanisms required to form peat partnerships – and some the barriers to forming them – the day was filled with further talks and discussion. 

Lecturer in Zoology, Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Land Management Dr Julia Casperd, part of the wider Harper Adams team behind the Paludiculture Innovation Project, added: “Paul's talk provided an excellent introduction to the day.”  

“Representatives from academia and key industry stakeholders, including from our very own university, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), David Santiago Rocha Cárdenas, AutoSpray Systems, and Cranfield University then went on to present their work in support of natural capital in temperate lowland peat ecosystems.  

“Then, on Thursday, we held our second Natural England Paludiculture Exploration Fund-backed PIP Symposium. The day began with an insightful presentation from ÎÞÂ붯»­ alumnus and Chairman of the Defra Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force, Robert Caudwell OBE.” 

Mr Caudwell said: “I discussed the recommendations from the Task Force’s report to Government – the 14 recommendations of which are now Government policy.” 

The presentation focused on factors critical to the success of farming at higher water tables - such as farm business profitability, landowner collaboration, how to fast track nature-based solutions, and the building of reservoirs to better manage water-based ecosystem services in the landscape.  

Dr Casperd added: “After this fascinating introduction, the morning was spent listening to an eclectic range of experts presenting preliminary results from our facility regarding the relationships between greenhouse gas emissions, water management and nutrients and the dynamics of water in paludiculture farming systems. We also heard about pioneering methods using seismology to measure peat volume.”  

“I spoke about the possibility of cranberry production in the UK and Harry Winslet, a Nuffield Scholar from G’s Group, talked about his work, including vegetable growing.” 

In the afternoon, attendees were given the chance the chance to visit Adney Yard, a field on the ÎÞÂ붯»­ estate where the paludiculture facility is being established. 

Adeney, considered a lowland peatland site, is being rewetted, within an agricultural productive system to assess the impact of raising the water table, and Dr  Casperd, Dr Lucy Crockford, Professor Jim Monaghan, Dr Simon Jeffery, and Dr Ana Natalio each discussed their research and work on the site. 

Dr Casperd added: “The entire team would like to thank everyone who spoke at, attended, and helped bring together the Symposium and Conference for their help and support. 

“The days formed part of a much wider patchwork of activities being driven at ÎÞÂ붯»­ that are bringing peat practitioners and experts together – to share what works on-farm.”