Conference 2025: Day 3 programme

Please note: this workshop covers both the AM and PM workshop slots and includes an outdoor activity. The session starts at 9.15am and concludes at 3.30pm. 

Creative expression is a uniquely powerful form of expression and engagement, and there are numerous practitioners and projects working with peat. However, there’s limited evidence that ecologists, academics, conservation officers, project managers and fund raisers working with peat are drawing on creative techniques to support and develop their work.

In this day-long workshop, delegates will familiarise themselves with creative practice around peat, and will consider how creative writing skills might inform their work in public engagement, evaluations, essays, marketing copy, report writing, etc. The objectives of the workshop are:

• to express the potential for creative practice around peat
• to provide models of existing practice
• to visit a site as a potential focus for creative practice
• to write creatively in response to the site visit
• to consider how creative skills might be applied within one’s own work
• to create a short downloadable resource available to all delegates.

Delivery team

Dr Anna Chilvers is a co-editor of The Book of Bogs. She is a writer and teacher with four novels published by Bluemoose Books. She has written a collection of short stories inspired by places in the Pennines, Legging It (Pennine Prospects, 2012) and is currently working on a non-fiction book about grief and loss of place.

Clare Shaw is a co-editor of The Book of Bogs. They have four poetry collections with Bloodaxe; their latest collection won a Northern Writer’s Award and was a Poetry Society Book of the Year 2022. Clare is a keen advocate for creative writing as a tool of social and personal change: their writing often engages with the intersections of ecology, resilience and social justice.

Johnny Turner is a bryologist with a special interest in Sphagnum and peatlands. He worked as a professional ecologist for many years and has published research on rare and threatened bryophytes and fungi. He currently works as a wildlife-friendly gardener, leads moss walks, consults on bryological matters and works on his creative non-fiction book about moss.

Itinerary

Time                           Location

09.15 – 10.30            First Floor Lounge

10.30 – 12.30            St Columb’s Park

13.30 – 15.30            Clock Tower Suite

Grand Ballroom

Please note, this session runs from 10.30am - 12.15pm.

Accurate information on the distribution and condition of peatlands is vital for informing effective restoration and conservation policy. Advances in hydrological monitoring, remote sensing, and data modelling are transforming the way we collect, analyse, and apply this knowledge. From AI-driven approaches to innovative sensor technologies, these tools promise greater efficiency, larger datasets, and deeper insights compared to traditional field methods — but they also bring new challenges and risks.

In this knowledge sharing session, experts from Natural England’s England Peat Map project and leading technology providers will present current innovations in peatland monitoring and mapping. Together, we will explore the opportunities and limitations of these approaches and discuss how they can complement established monitoring techniques to inform future peatland policy and practice.

This session complements the afternoon field-based workshop, but delegates are welcome to attend either session independently.

Chair
Harriet Santon, Peatland Code Officer, IUCN UK Peatland Programme

Speakers

Kayleigh Smith, Regional Sales Manager (North UK), In-Situ Europe Ltd.

Marjolein Helder, CEO, Plant-e Ltd.

Chris Miller, Field Survey Manager, and Tom Hunt, Data Engagement Lead, England Peat Map, Natural England

Olga Tutubalina, Remote Sensing Senior Expert, Gentian Ltd.

Clock Tower Boardroom

Following up on the themes of the field trip to Garron Plateau on Day 2 of the conference, this knowledge sharing session will showcase talks that will ‘deep-dive’ the issue of small boundary habitats and their importance to the peatland mosaic. We will then have a panel/audience discussion where we will ask the panel to address some specific questions before opening out the discussion to an audience Q&A. The session will consider the threats to these systems and investigate how we might include these habitats in both restoration and land use planning. This workshop will be of interest to those looking to deepen their knowledge of peatland mosaics and habitats and the interconnectedness of the landscape.

Speakers

Jessica Fìor-Berry, Policy Lead, IUCN UK Peatland Programme

Richard Lindsay, Peatland Consultant, Richard Lindsay Environment Arts and Letters

Iain Diack, Principal Specialist – Wetlands, Natural England

Shirley Clerkin, Project Manager, Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration, National Parks and Wildlife Service

First Floor Lounge

This workshop aims to share knowledge, case studies and ways of working to highlight the environmental risks associated with the various wool products on the market. It will:

• Showcase what is being done to clarify and understand these risks.
• Demonstrate various ways that wool could be used and discuss whether it is a viable material in different formats, for peatland restoration.
• Discuss policy approaches and various blockers to wool being widely implemented. 

The workshop will feature a series of presentations followed by a group discussion from practitioners and policy makers on what evidence gaps need filling, who can help who, and what can be done at a policy level to enable wool to reach the potential it has.

Speakers

Beth Thomas, Data and Evidence Manager, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Marry Berry, Peatland Advisor, Environment Agency

Sinead Grimes, Project Manager Dúlra Project, FORUM Connemara CLG

Roisin Grimes Donnelly, Ecologist, Terra Beo

Fabio Messori, PhD candidate, University of Cumbria

Michelle Henley, Peatland ACTION Technical Coordinator, NatureScot 

Drawing Room

Peatland restoration is rarely a straight path, and mistakes can be as instructive as successes. This interactive, practitioner-focused workshop invites participants to explore the challenges, setbacks, and unexpected outcomes encountered in peatland restoration projects across the UK.

The workshop will explore case studies where things didn’t go to plan—examining what went wrong, why it happened, and how these hurdles were overcome. This will be followed by open group discussions, where we will share our experiences and uncover the hidden value of failure as a driver of innovation and resilience in restoration practice.

Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, this session offers an opportunity to reflect, learn, and contribute to the production of a short document that summarises the main themes discussed in this session. 

Speakers

Guaduneth Chico, Action Site Coordinator (WaterLANDS), National Parks and Wildlife Service

Fernando Fernandez, Senior Wetland Ecologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service

Simon Gray, Head of Peatland Recovery, Ulster Wildlife

Martin Clift, Peatland Programme Manager, RSPB NI

Morag Angus, South West Peatland Partnership Project Manager, South West Water

Tessa Levens, Peat Project Officer, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Ted Talbot, Programme Manager Conservation and Land Management, Moors for the Future Partnership

Chris Pembroke, Senior Conservation Works Officer, Moors for the Future Partnership

Drawing Room

This Environment Agency-led topic deep dive will explore the critical role of eco-hydrology in peatland restoration. Through a series of presentations, the session will highlight how understanding the underlying hydrology - from base flow and sediment runoff to water quality - is key to successful restoration planning and implementation. Drawing on case studies from across the UK, the session will connect scientific insights with practical outcomes, emphasizing the link between hydrology and restoration targets, including implications for SSSI condition and development pressures.

The session will bring together a range of voices to provide multidisciplinary perspectives. Attendees will gain greater confidence in applying eco-hydrological guidelines and better appreciate how understanding the water environment is fundamental to achieving healthy, functioning peatlands. The session aims to foster shared learning across the UK and reinforce eco-hydrology as a foundation for informed restoration and land management decisions.

Speakers

Emma Taylor, Peatland Advisor, Environment Agency

Raymond Flynn, Reader in the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast

Rosalind Tratt, Consultant Ecologist, Sheffield Wetland Ecologists

Iain Diack, Principal Specialist, Wetlands, Natural England

Hugh Cushnan, Technical Director at RPS

This knowledge sharing session will explore the relationship between atmospheric pollutants and peatlands. Atmospheric pollutants are highly diverse and complex: they can be particulate or chemical in nature and they may be relatively localised or carried some distance in the atmosphere before deposition occurs during rainfall events. Peatlands are particularly vulnerable to atmospheric pollution, as they receive high levels of precipitation and occult precipitation. This session will feature talks exploring the sources of atmospheric pollutants, their diverse impacts on peatlands, restoration techniques and challenges in areas impacted by atmospheric pollution, and policy options. There will then be opportunities for wider discussion and shared learning through roundtable discussions.

Speakers

Áine O’Reilly, Senior Scientific Officer, Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Richard Fewster, Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast

First Floor Lounge

Community-based natural resource management is based on the pillars of economic development, environmental conservation and community empowerment. This workshop will showcase examples of community-centred peatland restoration in which communities are driving positive change in their local environment through bottom-up, democratic approaches to sustainable land management. We will explore the following questions:

• What are the pros and cons of community-centred restoration projects?
• Do we have many projects of this nature in Ireland/UK?
• What examples are there of organisations facilitating this approach and how do we disseminate their work more widely?
• What can we learn from global examples?
• Is there appetite for this type of project?
• What are the barriers and enablers?
• What type of support (financial or technical) is required?

Speakers

Gary Goggins, Public Awareness Manager, National Parks and Wildlife Service / LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature

Colm Gabin, Farmer, Natura Communities Initiative

Garry Luttrell, Director, Abbeyleix Bog Project CLG

Michael Carroll, Chairperson of Environment and Sustainability Committee, Tullamore Lions Club

Zarah Finn, Executive Officer, National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ballynahone Bog. Please note, this session runs from 1pm - 5pm.

Building on the morning’s knowledge-sharing session, this field workshop offers delegates the chance to see peatland monitoring and mapping technologies in action. Effective restoration relies not only on data and models, but also on careful ground-truthing and practical application in real landscapes. This session will explore how different approaches — from manual survey methods to advanced digital sensors — can complement one another in assessing peat depth, water tables, and overall habitat condition.

The workshop takes place at Ballynahone Bog SAC, Northern Ireland’s second largest intact lowland raised bog. Delegates will rotate through three demonstration stations, gaining first-hand experience with a range of tools and techniques. Alongside technical demonstrations, the session will highlight the importance of linking field evidence with broader datasets and models.

This workshop complements the morning knowledge-sharing session, but can also be attended as a stand-alone practical experience.

Itinerary

13.00 — Depart Ebrington Hotel

14.00 — Arrive Ballynahone Bog

Rotating group activities (50 minutes x2 with groups of 12 delegates):

Peat depth and water table measurement (England Peat Map team, In-Situ and Plant e)

Bog condition matrix demonstration (Richard Lindsay & Gentian)

16.00 — Depart Ballynahone Bog

17.00 — Return to Ebrington Hotel

Speakers

Kayleigh Smith, Regional Sales Manager, In-Situ Europe Ltd.

Sharon Polman, Business Developer, Plant-e Ltd.

Chris Miller, Field Survey Manager, and Tom Hunt, Data Engagement Lead, England Peat Map, Natural England

Olga Tutubalina, Remote Sensing Senior Expert, Gentian Ltd.

Richard Lindsay, Peatland Consultant, Richard Lindsay Environment Arts and Letters

Rafters Suite

Led by the Environment Agency, this topic deep dive will explore recent learning on water management in lowland agricultural peatlands across England and Ireland. With a focus on responding to the climate and biodiversity crises, the session will highlight how integrated hydrological management underpins more sustainable land uses, including cropping, grazing, rewetting, paludiculture, and nature restoration. Presentations will share findings from research and pilot projects, such as those supported by the Environment Agency’s Lowland Agricultural Peat (LAP) schemes, and initiatives in Ireland that align with similar goals.

The session will profile strategic approaches to managing water tables, assess risks and benefits, and explore how to create more space for nature within productive landscapes. Discussions will encourage knowledge exchange between nations, with a view to identifying collaborative opportunities and shaping a future vision for lowland peat that balances environmental integrity with land use needs. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the evidence base and greater confidence in making informed decisions on LAP land use and water management.

Chaired by Katharine Birdsall, Senior Peatland Advisor, Environment Agency

Speakers

Iain Detrey, Peatland Advisor, Environment Agency

Krystina Roope, Principal Hydroecologist, Jacobs UK Ltd.

Ross Morrison, Scientist, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Niall Ó Brolcháin, Researcher, University of Galway

Mike Longden, Peatland Programme Technical Lead, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside

Jim Milner, Paludiculture Exploration Fund Project Manager, Natural England

Doug McMillan, General Manager, Green Restoration Ireland Cooperative Society Ltd