IUCN UK PP conference 2024 Full Programme

Plenary sessions are live streamed: in-person and online tickets available

8am – 9am  Exhibition set up (Osprey Arena) 

8.45am – 10.30am  Delegate registration & poster set-up (Conference Centre Foyer, refreshments available) 

Please ensure you’re seated by 10.45am as we have an online audience. 

11am – 12pm  Conference welcome and introduction (Auditorium) 

Chaired by Emma Hinchliffe, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

11am – 11.15am  IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcome: Emma Hinchliffe, Director, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

11.15am – 11.30am  Ministerial address: Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity 

11.30am – 11.45am  An introduction to Peatland ACTION and the challenges and solutions to achieving a coordinated national programme of peatland restoration: Claudia Rowse, Deputy Director of Green Economy, NatureScot 

11.45am – 12pm  An introduction to Cairngorms National Park and their peatland programme: Grant Moir, CEO, Cairngorms National Park Authority

12pm – 1pm  Lunch (Food Court and Giovanni's)

1pm – 2.30pm  Engaging communities and creating connections (Auditorium)  

Chaired by Sara Booth-Card, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts 

This plenary session celebrates the unsung heroes of the peatland community: the volunteers, creatives and local people who champion peatlands, get stuck in with practical restoration, become citizen scientists, or use creative approaches to explore and connect people with peatlands in inspirational ways. 

1pm – 1.10pm  Introduction from Chair 

1.10pm – 1.20pm  Getting more Eyes on the Bog: Jane Akerman, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

Eyes on the Bog is the Peatland Programme’s long-term, low cost monitoring initiative, which has been rolled out across the UK thanks to the support of our incredible partners and an army of citizen scientists. We’ll provide an update on our Eyes on the Bog Fund and the projects benefitting from it. 

 

1.20pm – 1.35pm  Conserving lowland peatlands in central Scotland by volunteer action: Polly Phillpot, Butterfly Conservation 

In 2014 Butterfly Conservation formed a new project to improve the fortunes of Scottish lowland bogs through volunteer action. Dubbed the ‘Bog Squad’, volunteers have removed invasive scrub and installed ditch-blocking dams. These actions help re-wet areas, protecting peatland vegetation, as well as the Large Heath butterfly, a peatland specialist, once widespread on Britain’s lowland raised bogs.   

 

1.35pm – 1.50pm  Ireland’s Community Wetlands Forum: Mary Mulvey, Community Wetlands Forum 

A brief history of Ireland’s Community Wetlands Forum, and the organisation’s foundation of community engagement through projects such as ‘Just Transition’ and ‘Community Tourism’. Exploring the role of leadership, ‘Community Mentorship’ training and developments in wetland conservation knowledge, CWF have created connections with many other peatland projects in Ireland, including WaterLANDS, Wild Atlantic Nature and FarmPEAT. 

 

1.50pm – 2.05pm  Creative connections with urban schools: Lucy Lee, Yorkshire Peat Partnership 

Yorkshire Peat Partnership has partnered with grassroots arts organisation Keighley Creative to use nature connection and the creative arts to explore peatlands with six primary schools across three of the most underserved urban boroughs in West Yorkshire. Through explorations into the past, present and potential future of their local peatlands, children have contributed artworks which will be transformed into an adorned timber leaky dam by textile artist and sculptor Naseem Darbey and installed at a peatland restoration site close to the participating schools. 

 

2.05pm – 2.20pm  Performance lecture: Manon Awst 

Manon Awst is a Welsh artist and PhD candidate at Bangor University, who explores the patterns of her local peatlands with the support of Natural Resources Wales and their National Peatland Action Programme. Through a sculptural lens, she has been zooming in and responding to the alkaline fens of Anglesey and developing performative investigations on the quaking bogs in Gwynedd. At the conference she will hold a 'performance lecture' bringing together the different strands of her research, from deep listening to 'mooratmung' to finding balance on the stickiest, most unstable of grounds.  

She is currently a Future Wales Fellow as part of Arts Council Wales and Natural Resources Wales’ Creative Nature programme.  

Website: www.manonawst.com 

Instagram: @manon_awst 

2.20pm – 2.30pm  Audience Q&A 

2.30 – 3pm  Refreshments (Foyer)

3pm – 4.30pm  UK Strategy summary of progress and panel discussion (Auditorium) 

2024 sees the launch of the Peatland Programme’s UK Strategy report, in which we take stock of progress against the objectives of the UK Peatland Strategy. We’ll present key findings of the report, celebrating successes and highlighting where we’re falling short of critical targets for a sustainable future. This will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from each of the UK’s four devolved nations, giving our online and in-person audiences the opportunity to put their questions to the panel. 

UK Peatland Strategy report: Jessica Fìor-Berry and Helen Harper, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

Four country panel discussion

Chaired by Stuart Brooks, IUCN UK Peatland Programme Co-Chair  

Northern Ireland representative: Fiona Dickson, DAERA 

England representatives: Kate Corfield (Defra), Jonathan Butterfield (Natural England) and Craig Rockcliff (Environment Agency) 

Scotland representatives: Ben Dipper and Heather Perman, Scottish Government and Peter Hutchinson, NatureScot Peatland ACTION

Wales representatives: Mannon Lewis, Natural Resources Wales/National Peatland Action Programme (Wales) 

5pm – 10pm  Poster and exhibition session (Osprey Arena, open to the public from 5 – 7pm) 

Join our sponsors and exhibitors from across the peatland community to learn more about the research, restoration and engagement taking place across the UK. Try your hand at Peatland ACTION’s digger simulator, explore biodiverse soundscapes from different peatland habitats, or find out more about the amazing technologies being used to measure and monitor peatlands. 

6pm – 7pm  Peatland Poetry and Cinema (Auditorium, open to the public) 

Featuring the premiere of ‘Sphagnum Portraits’, a short film jointly commissioned by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, this eclectic mix of sound and vision takes you on a journey through the special peatlands and people that make the UK such a wonderful place. 

6pm – 6.05pm  Welcome: Jane Akerman, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

6.05pm – 6.20pm  ‘The most important plant in the world (2024)’ from the series Sphagnum Portraits’ introduced by Caroline Vitzthum

‘The most important plant in the world’ is the first in a series of short film portraits commissioned by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, highlighting ambitious works undertaken by individuals, charities and businesses to promote the importance of peatlands and help restoring them.

6.20pm – 6.30pm  ‘Connecting communities through citizen science and the arts’ introduced by Lucy Lee and Beth Thomas, Yorkshire Peat Partnership 

6.30pm – 6.40pm  'The Special Blanket' poetry reading, Roxane Andersen, University of the Highlands and Islands 

6.40pm – 6.50pm  ‘The Mossy Carpet’ introduced by Naomi Wright, Art and Energy 

6.50pm – 7pm  ‘STACKS’ and ‘Curlew, Curlew, Curlew!’ introduced by Rose Ferraby, University of Exeter 

7.30pm – 10pm  Buffet dinner and networking (Osprey Arena) 

Choose from a selection of full day or half day field visits. The following half day visits can be paired: 

Option J AM and Option K PM (K PM FULLY BOOKED)

Option K AM and Option J PM (J PM FULLY BOOKED)

Option L and Option J PM (J PM FULLY BOOKED) 

Option L and Option K PM (K PM FULLY BOOKED) 

Option M (FULLY BOOKED) and Option J PM (J PM FULLY BOOKED) 

Option M (FULLY BOOKED) and Option K PM (FULLY BOOKED) 

Ensure you collect a packed lunch from the conference foyer prior to departure, from 7.30am. We will provide a carton of drink but please bring your own reusable water bottle or flask to reduce our plastic consumption. A water refill station will be available in the venue foyer.  

Please assemble in the coach car park outside the conference venue at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time for safety briefings and to ensure we keep to time for paired half day visits. 

 

FULL DAY VISITS: CHOOSE ONE ONLY 

FIELD VISIT A

Transport provided by WeGo Bus Limited in 16 seater minibuses x2. 

Please note: you must provide your own high-vis vest and safety helmet for this visit. 

North Dalchork: Forestry and Land Scotland forest to bog restoration  

Capacity 30 people  

Join Forestry and Land Scotland to explore the challenges associated with landscape scale “forest to bog” restoration in the North Highlands. 

Dalchork Forest is located in central Sutherland, approximately 8 miles north of the village of Lairg. In total the forest block covers around 10,000 hectares of which around 70% was previously planted as commercial forestry plantation. The underlying soil throughout majority of the block is blanket bog, and as was the practice of the day, large tracts of this were ploughed, drained and heavily fertilised in the 1970s and 80s before being planted with Sitka spruce and Lodgepole pine. For a variety of reasons many of these crops failed to thrive and since 2014 FLS have been progressively removing large parts of these plantations and, where conditions are suitable, restoring them back to bog.   

To date around 2,000 ha have been restored. Since 2014, in conjunction with our main contractor, Duncan Wemyss Ltd, FLS have been developing and refining the equipment and the methodologies used both to remove trees from these peatland sites and to deliver the crucial rewetting work. 

During the visit on 18th September, attendees will get the chance to see the 216 ha South Corries site where latest specialist peatland harvesting techniques are being deployed. These have been developed to avoid causing further damage to the underlying peat and to leave the site, post tree removal, in optimal condition for rewetting. Rewetting work in the form of “ground smoothing” may also be happening at the time of the visit. 

In addition to visiting the live site at South Corries, FLS also propose to show attendees a range of sites in different stages of recovery and explain how restoration techniques and equipment have evolved over the years to bring us to this point. 

Travel and walk information 

Travel time – Aviemore to Lairg 1hr 45min 

Footwear/PPE required – sturdy walking boots or wellies. You must provide your own high-vis vest and safety helmet to be worn on the live site at South Corries. There are no toilets available on site. 

Itinerary 

Time      Location 

08.30     Depart Aviemore 

10.30     Arrive FLS Depot at Lairg – Toilet stop, Safety Briefing 

11.00     Depart Lairg 

11.30     Arrive South Corries Peatland Harvesting site. Tour of site including peatland harvesting and rewetting demos 

13.00     Lunch 

13.30     Visit previously restored forest to bog sites in different stages of recovery. 

15.15    Depart Dalchork 

17.15    Arrive Aviemore 

The visit will be led by Tim Cockerill and Sorin Both who are both Peatland Restoration Foresters working for FLS in its North Region.  

FIELD VISIT B - FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by Aberdeen Minibus Services and WeGo Bus limited in 16 seater minibuses x2.

Corrour Estate: British Dragonfly Society and Corrour Estate 

Capacity 30 people 

Join staff from Corrour Estate and Peatland and Odonata Ecologist, Stephen Corcoran, to find out about dragonfly conservation, blanket bog and forest to bog restoration. 

Corrour is a remote 23,000 hectare Highland estate on the edge of Rannoch Moor. The nearest public road is 17 miles from the isolated train station. Nearly 5,000 ha of the estate is woodland, 3,800 ha of commercial conifers, much planted on deep peat, and 1,200 ha of native woodland, the majority very recent. There is over 7,000 ha of open blanket bog with approximately 80% of it in a degraded state. Ecological restoration is at the heart of estate management as well as providing a traditional stalking experience. 

The first forest to bog restoration project was undertaken in 2015, covering 80 hectares, with a further 332 ha identified, and work is underway to restore this. Forest management is also on-going to restore native woodland, diversify the commercial woodland and move towards a continuous cover forestry approach. Montane woodland restoration is progressing supported by a significant reduction in the density of red deer. 

Restoration work of the open blanket bog habitat is targeting an initial area of nearly 700 ha to be undertaken in several phases. Work started in 2020 and is now in its third year, with over 500 ha on the road to recovery. All restoration work is supported by Peatland ACTION. 

Corrour Estate was identified as one of the key sites for the rare Azure hawker in 2019. This dragonfly is restricted to the north-west of Scotland and is found in small Sphagnum pools in blanket bogs. With the climate changing, many of its breeding pools are drying out and the British Dragonfly Society is working with the Corrour Estate to create more climate resilient breeding pools. 

The field trip for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme conference will include visits to three sites on Corrour Estate. 

The first stop by Britain’s remotest train station, is to look at pools created for Azure hawker in an area of peatland, discussing the species’ requirements and the types of pools needed. Larval sampling can be done to look for the aquatic life stage – bring a colander and a hand lens. 

You will then travel back along Loch Ossian to the Ghlas Choire site. Restoration work of this 43 ha blanket bog was completed in the winter of 2022/23. This site contained erosion gullies and peat hags, with activities including re-profiling and turfing of hags and gullies with turf dams or bunds in gullies. This is also one of 2 sites where pools are being monitored for aquatic invertebrate colonisation. 

You will then take the minibuses down towards the conifer plantations in Glen Spean to look at the forest to bog work in the plantations around the Allt Loraich. The trees in this 80 ha block were cleared to recycle in 2015 using motor manual and whole tree mulching/chipping methods. Follow up work to control conifer regeneration is an ongoing issue. 

Travel and walk information 

Travel time: Aviemore to Corrour Station 1hr 45min 

The site visits will involve walking over rough and wet peatland terrain with no paths. The first two sites involve less than 1km of walking with the forest to bog site 2km at most. Boots or wellies are required as well as full waterproofs and warm clothes. Also bring midge repellent. You will be outside all day, with no areas to shelter and no toilet access. 

Itinerary  

Time      Location 

09.00     Depart Aviemore 

10.45     Arrive Corrour Station 

10.50     Introduction to the estate 

11.00     Pool creation and Azure hawker dragonflies 

12.00     Leave station travel to Ghlas Choire site 

12.30     Ghlas Choire peatland site visit & lunch 

14.15     Travel to Allt Loraich site 

14.45     Allt Loraich Forest to Bog site visit  

16.15     Depart Corrour 

17.30     Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT C - FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by Bothies & Bannocks in 8 seater vehicles x2.  

Parkins Moss, Muir of Dinnet NNR: NatureScot lowland raised bog restoration 

Capacity 15 people  

Join Nature Reserve Manager Simon Ritchie at Parkins Moss, part of the Raised Bog Special Area of Conservation designation that forms part of Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve.  

Parkin’s moss was drained by the Victorians to try and make more grazing land for livestock. Unfortunately, the water level suddenly dropping has prevented the continued formation of peat, but NatureScot have been working to reverse this since 1999.  

Learn more about the work has been undertaken to remove tree regeneration and dam up ditches to restore the hydrology of the bog. Parkins Moss is an extremely important part of the wider reserve, and is home to some special species including Northern Damselfly which is a Scottish highlands specialist.  

The walk will start at 11am with a site introduction in the visitor centre. You will then head to the moss and discuss the restoration works that have been undertaken. Delegates can then enjoy their packed lunch at the moss or head back to the visitor centre with Simon, who will facilitate a concluding discussion at 2pm. 

Travel and walk information 

Travel time: Aviemore to Parkin’s Moss 1hr 45min  

The site visit will involve walking on paths and boardwalks for around 4km in total. Boots or wellies are required as well as full waterproofs and warm clothes. Also bring midge repellent. Toilets are available at the visitor centre. 

Itinerary  

Time      Location 

09.15     Depart Aviemore 

11.00     Arrive Parkins Moss 

11.05     Introduction to the site in the visitor centre 

11.30     Guided walk to the moss & lunch 

14.00     Concluding talk at visitor centre 

14.30     Depart Parkins Moss 

16.15     Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT D - FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by D&E Coaches in a 49 seater coach. 

Creag Meagaidh NNR: four decades of ecological restoration from loch shore to summit plateau  

Capacity 40 people 

Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve (NNR) was one of the first places in Scotland to achieve large scale habitat restoration following centuries of land degradation. When Creag Meagaidh became an NNR in 1986 the land had been overgrazed by deer and sheep and had narrowly escaped a blanket of non-native commercial forestry plantations. Through a determined programme of reducing the large-herbivore pressure by removing the sheep and reducing the deer impacts to a sustainable level over 4,000 hectares, the habitats have been able to recover naturally with little intervention. This has benefitted the woodlands which are expanding, and the blanket bogs which are showing signs of natural recovery, and importantly has all been achieved in the presence of wild deer (without the need for any deer fences).    

Today the NNR supports a broad mosaic of thriving habitats from loch shore (250m above sea level) to mountain plateau (1,130m above sea level), including upland heaths, blanket bogs, birch and alder woodland, montane willow scrub and grasslands, tall herb communities and managed fields used by our small Highland Cattle herd.   

On this visit we will walk up the Coire Ardair path to experience the recovery of natural habitats, and discuss some of the management, reflecting on the importance of herbivore-habitat interactions. We will also discuss the importance of involving the local community, including our Community Deer Stalking initiative for locally living people. We will discuss the network of footpaths and visitor facilities and see how we are producing local wild venison at a small-scale.   

An introduction to Creag Meagaidh NNR can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n7R7vEpeOA (embed YouTube video) 

Travel and walk information 

Travel time: Aviemore to Creag Meagaidh 1hr 

The site visit will involve walking on paths which are steep and loose in places. Boots or wellies are required as well as full waterproofs and warm clothes. Also bring midge repellent. Toilets are available on site. For further information see Creag Meagaidh NNR - Visiting the reserve | NatureScot. 

Itinerary  

Time       Location 

09.00      Depart Aviemore 

10.00      Arrive Creag Meagaidh 

10.05      Meet at the Farmhouse (500m up from the main car park) 

10.10      Short introduction to the NNR 

11.00      Walk up the Coire Ardair path to see and experience ecological restoration and current work 

13.00      Packed lunch 

14.00      Deer management facilities and community stalking project 

15.00      Depart Creag Meagaidh 

16.00      Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT E OR F - FULLY BOOKED

Wildland Cairngorms: Lynaberack or Gaick Estate site visits  

Join members of the Cairngorms Peatland ACTION team, to explore the challenges of peatland restoration in the Cairngorms at either Lynaberack or Gaick Estate (both part of Wildland Cairngorms). 

Wildland has a 200-year vision of landscape-scale conservation in the Scottish Highlands. Wildland Cairngorms comprises several estates including Glenfeshie, Lynaberack and Gaick. On these estates work is ongoing to help promote the recovery of habitats and species. Wildland is a key partner of Cairngorms Connect and is contributing significantly to the Cairngorms Connect rewilding and habitat restoration targets. With support and funding from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) Peatland ACTION Programme (Cairngorms Peatland ACTION) over 1,000 ha of peatland has been put into restoration management in the Wildland Cairngorms area so far. Wildland Cairngorms is also an outstanding example of native woodland recovery through deer management and as well as looking at peatland sites there will be opportunities to look at the natural regeneration of native woodlands that has occurred and how the two (peatlands and woodlands) interact in this landscape. 

Cairngorms Peatland ACTION is a Peatland ACTION delivery partner which is helping landowners across the Cairngorms National  Park to develop, design and deliver peatland restoration projects. The team also runs a New Entrant Programme that helps new contractors to upskill and gain experience and competence in peatland restoration.  

At both sites, there will be opportunities to learn about how the Cairngorms Peatland ACTION team develop, design and deliver peatland restoration projects. 

 

FIELD VISIT E - FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by Leathan Taxis and Allan & Black in 16 seater minibuses x2.

Lynaberack (500 – 600m above sea level) 

Capacity 24 people 

At Lynaberack participants will be treated to a varied day, which will including visiting two recently completed erosion projects and one challenging area of erosion that is yet to be restored. Participants will be invited to discuss different restoration approaches and the challenges and benefits of these. There will be opportunities to look at areas of erosion that have been restored by machine (primarily hag reprofiling and gully blocking) and by hand labour (i.e. timber dams, sack dams, coir mesh, etc.) and areas that are yet to be restored. These sites are also a prime example of the challenges faced when accessing and restoring remote high altitude upland sites.  

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Lynaberack 1hr 
Sturdy walking boots or wellies and suitable outdoor clothing are required. This visit will involve much walking over uneven and difficult ground so good physical fitness is required. There are no toilets available on site. 

Itinerary  

Time      Location 

09.00     Depart Aviemore 

10.00     Arrive Lynaberack Estate (Tromie Dam) 

10.00     Steep hike up hill to restoration site (~30 minutes) 

10.30     Site visit to Lynaberack Site 4 (completed in 2024). 

12.30     Lunch (please collect from conference venue foyer prior to departure) 

13.00     Site visit to Lynaberack Site 5 (not yet restored) 

14.00     Site visit to Lynaberack Site 3 (completed in 2023) 

15.00     Return to minibuses at Tromie dam, via Sites 5 & 3 and steep decent downhill 

16.00     Depart Lynaberack 

17.00     Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT F - FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by Highland Yaks and Macdui Adventures in 8 seater vehicles x3.

Gaick (450 – 600m above sea level) 

Capacity 31 people 

At Gaick the main focus will be looking at a very recently completed peatland restoration project which has machine work (primarily gully blocking, hag reprofiling and arc bunding) and a wide variety of hand labour techniques, including timber dams, stone dams, leaky bogwood / stone dams, stone spillways, sack dams, coirmesh and cottongrass plug planting. This site is notable for the high level of naturally recovering common cottongrass. As at Lynaberack, participants will be invited to join in with group discussions on different restoration approaches and the challenges and benefits of these. 

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Gaick 1hr 30min 
Sturdy walking boots or wellies and suitable outdoor clothing are required. This visit will involve much walking over uneven and difficult ground so good physical fitness is required. There are no toilets available on site. 

Itinerary  

Time     Location 

09.00    Depart Aviemore 

10.30    Arrive Gaick Estate 

10.30    Site visit to Gaick Site 1 (completed in 2024) 

12.30    Lunch (please collect from conference venue foyer prior to departure) 

13.00    Continue site visit to Gaick Site 1 (completed in 2024) 

15.30    Depart Gaick 

17.00    Arrive Aviemore 

HALF DAY VISITS: CHOOSE ONE ONLY 

FIELD VISIT G

Transport provided by D&E Coaches in a 49 seater coach.  

Allargue Estate: Corr Riabhach project site visit 

Capacity 30 people 

Join Cairngorms Peatland ACTION and Adrian Walker of the Allargue Estate Partnership to explore the challenges of restoring an actively eroding, high altitude (760m) peatland site within the Cairngorms National Park.  

Allargue Estate is located in upper Donside, some 14km west of Strathdon, where they use a blended management approach that seeks to balance traditional land management and sporting activities. Part of this mix of activities is the delivery of peatland restoration. In recent years the Estate has trialed some small-scale peatland restoration work ‘in-house’, with the view to delivering future restoration on a larger scale.  

The Corr Riabhach demonstration site (c.12ha) is representative of similar areas of degraded peatland found elsewhere on Allargue Estate (as well as on neighbouring Estates), and the project was established to help foster a better understanding of the real costs associated with restoring challenging sites such as this.   

The north-eastern section of the project site falls within the Ladder Hills SSSI/SAC, notified for its upland assemblage (SSSI), alpine heath (SSSI/SAC), subalpine dry heath (SSSI/SAC), blanket bog (SSSI/SAC), and minerology of Scotland (SSSI) natural features.   

During the visit you will hear about some of the challenges that this work presents, including the treatment of complex erosion features, limited machine access, working at altitude over autumn and winter, and a significant hand-work component using imported materials. The project also presented an opportunity to trial the use of new wool products, as well as other novel interventions such as peat-filled ‘strudels’, which will allow the Cairngorms peatland team to monitor the efficacy of these approaches to the benefit of the wider Cairngorms Peatland ACTION programme.   

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Allargue 1hr 
Sturdy walking boots or wellies and warm waterproof outdoor clothing are required. This visit will involve walking 30min each way up a steep hill track. There are no toilets available on site. 

Itinerary  

Time Location 

09.00     Depart Aviemore 

10.00     Arrive lay-by near Lecht Ski Centre car park 

10.00     Walk to site 

10.30     Arrive Corr Riabhach 

12.30     Return from site 

13.00     Depart lay-by  

14.00     Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT H - FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by D&E Coaches in a 16 seater minibus. 

RSPB Abernethy: Bile Buidhe blanket bog site visit  

Capacity 14 people 

Abernethy NNR is located in the northern Cairngorms and has been managed by the RSPB since the 1980s. Most widely known for its remnant Caledonian pine forest, the reserve also encompasses a large amount of mountainous terrain and stretches as far west as Ben Macdhui. A significant amount of the upland area to the east of the reserve is comprised of blanket bog, of which around 1400ha is heavily eroded.  

Previous peatland restoration projects on the reserve have focused mainly on the area around Bynack More. In 2023 the RSPB started a large-scale peatland restoration project on the eastern side of the reserve on Bile Buidhe. This project saw an area of 75ha restored: the site had some of the most complex and technical restoration work found in the Cairngorms and a range of restoration techniques were needed to get the site on the road to recovery. This year a further 50ha will be restored with work starting in August 2024. 

Join the site visit at Abernethy NNR with Project Manager Sally Phillips and Principal Ecologist Neil Cowie to look at the results of last year’s work, what went well and what didn’t. During the site visit we will explore some of the challenges that the project presents, including the treatment of complex erosion features, limited machine access, working at altitude over autumn and winter, and a significant amount of handwork. There will also be an opportunity to see some peatland restoration in action, with this year’s restoration work well underway. 

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Abernethy Forest Lodge 30min 
Sturdy walking boots or wellies and warm waterproof outdoor clothing are required. This visit will involve walking 6-7km and a 300m ascent over rough (sometimes wet and boggy) ground. There are no toilets available on site. 

Itinerary  

Time      Location 

08.30     Depart Aviemore 

09.00     Arrive Abernethy Forest Lodge 

09.05     Transfer to 4x4s for travel to site 

               Walk and talk including lunch break 

14.00     Depart Abernethy  

14.30     Arrive Aviemore 

HALF DAY VISITS: CHOOSE ONE VISIT OR TWO THAT CAN BE PAIRED  

The following visits can be paired with each other: 

Option J AM and Option K PM (KM PM FULLY BOOKED) 

Option K AM and Option J PM (J PM FULLY BOOKED)

Option L and Option J PM (J PM FULLY BOOKED)

Option L and Option K PM (K PM FULLY BOOKED)

Option M (FULLY BOOKED) and Option J PM (J PM FULLY BOOKED)

Option M (FULLY BOOKED) and Option K PM (FULLY BOOKED) 

 

FIELD VISIT J: AM OR PM (PM FULLY BOOKED)

Transport provided by D&E Coaches in a 49 seater coach

Cairngorm Mountain Area: Forestry and Land Scotland site visit 

Please note: you must provide your own high-vis vest and safety helmet for this visit 

Capacity 30 people in AM group, 30 people in PM group 

Join Isabelle Destor, Peatland Restoration Forester at Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), to see a unique, high-altitude area of restored peat haggs. The site is at the foot of the busy Cairngorm Mountain Scotland (CMS) ski centre in the Cairngorm National Park and the surrounding area is popular for tourism and outdoor activities. The 60ha site (58ha managed by FLS and 2ha by Highlands and Islands Enterprise) is located within FLS Glenmore Forest, 10 miles from Aviemore. 

The Cairngorm site has a suite of European and National designations attached to it as part of the Cairngorms Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Some of the qualifying features at European level include the “wet heathland with cross-leaved heath” and “blanket bogs”. The site is also designated at national level for its landscape value as part of the Cairngorm Mountain National Scenic Area (NSA). 

We will look at the challenges of re-profiling a complex network of small, old, eroded peat haggs/gullies interconnected with near-natural habitats, as categorised under the Peatland Code. There will be a chance to discuss the difficulties of adapting work for high altitude with changeable and challenging weather such as snow and high winds. The effectiveness of restoration methods in preventing future peat hagg erosion will be assessed through a long-term monitoring program. 

We will also discuss the importance of working in partnership with Cairngorm Mountain Scotland to gain access to the site. Given the busy surroundings, public safety was an important consideration, leading to an additional challenge of a limited time window permitted to carry out the works. 

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Cairngorm ski area car park 30min 
The site may be live during the visit so please come prepared with your own high-vis vest, safety helmet and sturdy boots with good ankle support. Waterproof boots or wellies are highly recommended along with warm waterproof clothing. The walk is not strenuous but underfoot conditions can be very wet. Walking time will be 20-30 minutes in total. There are toilets available in the car park. 

Itinerary AM group  

Time      Location 

09.30     Depart Aviemore 

10.00     Arrive Cairngorm ski area 

10:05     Site visit 

12.00     Depart Cairngorm ski area  

12.30     Arrive Aviemore 

 

Itinerary PM group - FULLY BOOKED 

Time      Location 

13.00     Depart Aviemore 

13.30     Arrive Cairngorm ski area 

13.35     Site visit 

15.30     Depart Cairngorm ski area  

16.00     Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT K: AM OR PM - PM FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by King Coaches (First Aberdeen) in 16 seater minibuses x2.

Inshriach Forest: Forestry and Land Scotland site visit 

Capacity 30 people in AM group, 30 people in PM group 

Join Russell Anderson of Forestry and Land Scotland to visit ongoing peatland and river restoration work in the heart of the Cairngorms. The Allt a’ Mharacaidh area of Inshriach Forest is part of the Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve, River Spey and Cairngorms Special Areas of Conservation and is part of Cairngorms Connect, Britain’s largest ecological restoration project. 

Located in the heart of the Cairngorms around 10km south of Aviemore, the site contains a mixture of habitats including bog woodland and very wet mires (2 of the SAC qualifying features). The site has been impacted by historical tree felling and planting of non-native species and was first partially restored under the LIFE Wet Woodlands Project in the early 2000’s. At that time there was significant felling of non-native trees and drain blocking. Follow up work since then has involved revegetating an area of exposed peat, and work to naturalise the main watercourse through the site (which had been impacted by use in logging operations in the past). 

The bog woodland habitat here is very rare in Scotland, being restricted to very wet bogs which are barely suitable for tree growth. Succession to woodland is only partial, due to some areas of the bog being too wet to support trees. This results in an open canopy woodland of (often very old) stunted trees. The trees germinate on drier micro sites, grow very slowly due to the wet and nutrient poor conditions and often sink or fall over once they reach a critical size. While much of the surrounding forest has been planted, the trees in the bog are remnants of the original native Caledonian Forest that once covered this site. 

We will be looking at the challenges of combining peatland restoration work alongside river restoration work and commercial forestry, all in a highly designated and sensitive landscape. 

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Inshriach 30mins 
Waterproof boots or wellies are highly recommended along with warm waterproof clothing. The walk is not strenuous but underfoot conditions can be very wet. Walking time: 30-40 minutes total. There are no toilets available on site. 

 

Itinerary AM group  

Time      Location 

09.30     Depart Aviemore 

10.00     Arrive Inshriach 

10:05     Site visit 

12.00     Depart Inshriach  

12.30     Arrive Aviemore 

 

Itinerary PM group - FULLY BOOKED  

Time      Location 

13.00     Depart Aviemore 

13.30     Arrive Inshriach 

13.35     Site visit 

15.30     Depart Inshriach  

16.00     Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT L: AM ONLY

Transport provided by WeGo Bus Limited in a 30 seater coach. 

River Peffery: Re-meandering project site visit 

Capacity 30 people 

The Peffery Restoration Project has re-meandered previously a straightened, deepened section of the Peffery River close to the small settlement of Fodderty. 

The new channel is 30% longer than the original channel, increasing in length from 450m to 600m. In addition, a total of 6.5 ha of new floodplain habitat has been created. New floodplain habitat comprises a mosaic of wetland, swales, backwaters, marshy grassland, improved grassland reverting to a more natural vegetation composition, and a combination of planted / regenerating trees and scrub. 

Trees removed to create the new channel have been recycled for use within the restoration site as large woody debris structures or tie-in bank protection. These features have already encouraged the formation of fish spawning habitat and structural diversity whilst having the additional benefit of decreasing diffuse pollution. This offers a host of ecological and geomorphological benefits lending itself to a stable and sustainable riparian ecosystem. The Peffery River hosts a range of protected species including Atlantic salmon, otter, kingfisher and eels which will benefit from increased habitat, reduced pollution and improved geomorphology of the river.  

The visit will be hosted by Richard Lockett (Lockett Agri-Environmental) and supported by Dr Hamish Moir (cbec eco-engineering). 

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Fodderty 1hr 10 min 
Waterproof boots or wellies are highly recommended along with warm waterproof clothing. The walk is not strenuous but underfoot conditions can be very wet. Walking time: 30-40 minutes. There are no toilets available on site. 

Itinerary  

Time      Location 

08.00     Depart Aviemore 

09.10     Arrive Fodderty Cemetery 

09.25     Walk and talk 

11.30     Depart Fodderty  

12.40     Arrive Aviemore 

FIELD VISIT M: AM ONLY - FULLY BOOKED

Transport provided by D&E coaches in a 22 seater minibus

RSPB Abernethy: Loch Garten bog woodland site visit  

Capacity 20 people 

Abernethy NNR is located in the northern Cairngorms and has been managed by the RSPB since the 1980s. Recently, the RSPB have been restoring peat beneath the trees: historically, deep drains were cut to allow for tree planting. In some of these areas, deep peat is present, and the drains are actively draining large areas of bog woodland habitat. 

Following a successful trial project to block drains using small excavators near Loch Garten in 2022, a second project was delivered in 2023 using a range of techniques including timber dams, peat dams and wave dams, and zipping of drain lines. The work is much slower than traditional drain blocking as the excavator moves slowly through the forest to avoid causing damage to trees. The ground vegetation is also much thicker making drain lines harder to spot and follow. The result of this work is evident very quickly with new bog pools forming behind dams almost immediately, and the water levels rising in the forest around the blocked drains.  

Meeting at the Loch Garten Nature Centre Car Park, our community ranger Sarah White will give you an introduction to Abernethy Nature Reserve and the work that the RSPB does. RSPB Abernethy Field Officer Megan Jones will lead a visit to the 2023 project site to look at the results of the work, discuss the long-term goals for the project and talk about the importance of restoring this habitat.  

Travel and walk information 
Travel time: Aviemore to Loch Garten 30min 
Waterproof boots or wellies are highly recommended along with warm waterproof clothing. Walking distance: 1-2km on wet, uneven groun. There are toilets available in the Loch Garten Nature Centre. 

Itinerary  

Time      Location 

08.30     Depart Aviemore 

09.00     Arrive Loch Garten 

09.05     Introduction to Abernethy 

09.30     Visit to 2023 project site 

12.00     Depart Loch Garten  

12.30    Arrive Aviemore 

7pm – 11.30pm        Conference dinner, networking and entertainment 

Join us for a three course dinner and entertainment from ceildih band The Haggis Chasers. The dress code for dinner is smart/casual, but feel free to bring your tux or wellies if you prefer! 

Exploring Aviemore

There are plenty of options for exploring the area local to the conference venue, including nearby nature reserves.

Craigellachie National Nature Reserve

If you’ve booked a half day field visit on Day 2 of the conference and have some time to spare, you might like to visit Craigellachie National Nature Reserve. It’s situated just a 5-minute walk from the Macdonald Aviemore Resort and the beautiful photo on the conference webpages was taken at the reserve, looking across to the Cairngorms Mountains. Managed by NatureScot, the reserve is home to a nationally important upland birch woodland. There are four trails within the reserve, varying in length from 0.7 – 4.4km. Tracks are fairly steep in some places and rough and muddy in others. Toilets are available at the conference centre or the nearby youth hostel.

Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve

This reserve is a 20-minute drive (10km) from Aviemore. At 3,000 hectares, it includes a host of habitats including ancient pinewoods and blanket bog.  It is also well known for having what is thought to be the only natural tree line in the UK. The nearest bus stop and train stations are 10km from the reserve and access is via a minor road. For more information, see Invershie and Inshriach NNR – Visiting the reserve. There are no waymarked trails on the reserve but a well-defined path from the car park follows the Allt Ruadh (‘red burn’) for 6 km to the summit of Sgòr Gaoith, at 1,118 metres. If you don’t want such a long strenuous trip, a 30-minute walk will give you a taste of how the reserve changes from valley to open hill. It will also give you superb views westwards over Glen Feshie to the Monadhliath hills beyond. The path is mostly well surfaced but steep with loose stones in places. Higher up, it’s prone to erosion. Please help by keeping to the centre of the path.

8.45am  Refreshments 

9.20am  Updates from the IUCN UK Peatland Programme (Auditorium) 

Join IUCN UK Peatland Programme Director Emma Hinchliffe for an update on the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, our recent work and future plans. Find out how you can contribute to our collective vision as we invite the peatland community to inform our ongoing strategy and collaborative work.

 

Deep dive workshops and knowledge sharing sessions from 10am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm in the Auditorium, Osprey Arena, Peregrine 1, Peregrine 2 and Strathspey.  

‘Assessing bog health’ and ‘Posing peatland questions’ are full day workshops involving a field visit. 

Delegates to choose ONE full day session  

OR  

one AM AND one PM session. 

 

FULL DAY WORKSHOPS

Assessing bog health using a simple condition matrix - FULLY BOOKED

Please note: this workshop covers both the AM and PM workshop slots and will involve a short classroom session followed by training in the field.  

Collect a packed lunch from the conference foyer from 8am. 

When planning peatland restoration and assessing trajectories of change post-restoration, accurate assessment of habitat condition is of critical importance. Join the IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s Senior Research Advisor Richard Lindsay for a practical workshop exploring a matrix-based approach to bog condition assessment based on microtopography and associated vegetation communities. Richard will introduce the methodology and how to identify assessment units remotely in a classroom session, followed by the opportunity to test the matrix in the field on a blanket bog at Abernethy National Nature Reserve.  

The field visit will involve walking ~4km over uneven ground. Please bring appropriate footwear for wet conditions. There are no toilets on site.  

Schedule 

8am  Collect packed lunch from conference foyer 

8.15am – 9.15am  Classroom session in the Strathspey suite 

9.30am – 10.30am  Travel to Abernethy field site 

10.30am – 2pm  Field based training including packed lunch 

2pm – 3pm  Return to conference venue 

 

Our future is peat 

Please note: this workshop will cover both the AM and PM workshop slots and will be mostly field-based. 

Collect a packed lunch from the conference foyer from 8am. Please bring your own hand lens and sketching materials if possible. 

In this creative workshop, interdisciplinary artist Caroline Vitzthum and members of the youth-led collective RE-PEAT invite delegates to answer peatland questions received from children across the UK. The first part of the day will be spent at Ruthven Barracks, where Orla Craig and Tom Gardner from Historic Environment Scotland will explore historical relationships and perceptions of peatlands. Participants will then travel to RSPB Insh Marshes Nature Reserve, to consider a particular question and engage creatively with the environment to capture notes, drawings, sounds, and collective discoveries. Letters will be composed in response to the children’s questions, to be shared with them and collated into a published collection of work.

To find out more about Caroline’s work, visit https://carolinevitzthumstudio.com/.

To find out more about RE-PEAT’s work, visit https://www.re-peat.earth/.

Transport will be provided from the coach car park. Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time to depart at 10am.

Schedule

10am – 10.30am  Travel to Ruthven Barracks

10.30am – 11.30am  Explorations of historical relationships

11.30am – 11.40am  Travel to Insh Marshes

11.40am – 12.30pm  Exploration of site through creative activities

12.30pm – 1pm   Lunch

1.30pm – 2.30pm  Letter writing

2.30pm – 3pm  Return to conference venue

 

AM WORKSHOPS: 10am – 12pm 

Working together at landscape scale on lowland peat 

Location: Peregrine 1  

In this interactive workshop, participants will consider how to work together across organisations to deliver environmental outcomes on lowland peat. Case study presentations from successful lowland peat projects will set the scene, and groups will draw on real-world examples to consider risks, benefits and potential financing options for landscape scale peat projects.   

Chaired by Jordan Champ and Sam Joyce, Defra 

Speakers: 

Megan Hudson, Fenland SOIL 

Peter Jones, Natural Resources Wales 

 

Translational palaeoecology and the art of collaboration: understanding the past for resilient futures 

Location: Peregrine 2 

Translational palaeoecology offers a collaborative approach to practice-focused research.  This workshop will explore this concept to demonstrate how palaeoecology – the ecology of past environments – can be transformed from interesting to actionable.  Using restoration scenarios, the workshop will guide participants through a process of translational palaeoecology and demonstrate how an understanding of the past can inform practical management and restoration of peatlands. 

Chaired by Jessica Gauld, University of Manchester 

Speakers: Morag Angus (SWPP)

 

Digital MRVs for Peatland Code and other projects 

Location: Auditorium 

In this knowledge sharing session we will explore the emerging digital tools for Monitoring and Verification of Peatland Code and other peatland projects. Digital technologies present a significant opportunity to improve the efficiency and costs of monitoring and reporting on peatland condition and associated environmental variables, but with the scale and pace of technological development, it can be challenging to understand what is reliable and applicable for peatland projects. This session will introduce a range of organisations and individuals developing and testing these technologies and ask: what can currently be achieved using digital approaches, and where is further development and testing required? 

Chaired by Miles Wilson, North Pennines National Landscape 

Speakers: 

Renée Kerkvliet-Hermans, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

Anne Williams, AI4Peat 

David Large, University of Nottingham 

Roxane Andersen, University of the Highlands and Islands 

Mark Currass, SEAD Artists 

Pontus Nordin and Carlos Alvarado, Sylvera 

Marjolein Helder, Plant e 

Olga Tutubalina, Gentian 

 

Diving the depths: the need for a unified UK-wide approach to peat depth

Location: Strathspey suite 

Peat depth as a defining feature for ‘deep peat’ habitats in the UK is a hangover from the post-war period when the main driver was to understand the landscape in terms of the ability to increase productivity. However, this has resulted in a definition that creates an overly simplistic approach, delineating peatland habitats by depth rather than viewing them holistically as a functional mosaic. This session will discuss the need for a unified UK-wide approach to peat depth in policy contexts, legislative/regulator contexts with supporting case studies, practitioner needs along with the technical background as to why there is a need for a different approach to defining the UK’s peatlands. 

Chaired by Dave Stone, JNCC 

Speakers: 

Mark Owen, Natural England 

Andrew Midgley, RSPB 

Richard Lindsay, University of East London (pre-record) 

Emily Taylor,  Crichton Carbon Centre 

Alistair Lockett, North Pennines National Landscape

 

Bringing back nature: biodiversity monitoring for a greener future  

Location: Osprey Arena 

Peatlands are extremely important for biodiversity, and the restoration, protection and sustainable management of these unique habitats is essential to meet our legally binding targets for nature recovery. This knowledge sharing session will outline the policy context behind existing biodiversity strategies and how peatland projects can provide the data needed to evidence progress in delivery. We will focus on the current state of play of biodiversity monitoring and the potential for technology to support us in understanding and reporting on peatland biodiversity. 

Chaired by Iain Diack, Natural England 

Speakers 

Joey Pickard and Mike Shewring, Lost Peatlands Project 

Joe Anderson, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

Calum Brown, Highlands Rewilding Ltd. 

Max Bodmer, rePLANET 

 

12pm – 1pm  Lunch 

PM WORKSHOPS: 1pm – 3pm 

Native trees, peat and dynamic landscapes - FULLY BOOKED

Location: Peregrine 1

This workshop aims to broaden perceptions of the relationships between native trees and peatlands in the context of landscape-scale restoration, following on from the National Trust hosted webinar ‘Trees and Peat – Interactions in Ecosystem Recovery’ webinar earlier this year. Hear inspiration from Kate Hanley, RSPB Site Manager, who will share the innovative approach being taken at RSPB Dovestones. Delegates are then invited to discuss and prioritise key themes identified during the webinar and presentation and address challenges and opportunities in relation to restoration of natural processes. Input from this session will be used to inform a joint publication on the topic, developed by the National Trust and IUCN UK Peatland Programme. Prior attendance at the webinar is not a requirement and you can catch up on all the talks on the IUCN UK Peatland Programme YouTube channel.

Chaired by Caroline Thorogood, National Trust

 

Developing a skilled restoration workforce: training and capacity building

Location: Peregrine 2

Accelerating the pace and scale at which peatland is being restored across the UK depends upon having a suitably skilled and knowledgeable workforce to survey, plan, deliver, manage and monitor projects. Increasingly, these skills also require a fluency in blending public and private finance. This workshop will focus on the challenges of developing a skilled workforce capable of meeting ambitious targets and focus on positive action being taken across the UK to address skills and capacity gaps. We will consider the effectiveness of particular skills and workforce interventions; identify where the challenges are with these approaches; explore the potential for collaborative action and consider ‘what’s next’ in the development of the peatland skills supply chain.

Chaired by Becky Shaw, NatureScot Peatland ACTION 

Speakers 

Emily Taylor, Crichton Carbon Centre 

Rachel Urquhart, Albamontane

With an intervention provided by Emma Stewart, Cairngorms National Park Authority 

 

Restoration standards and guidance: driving innovation and improving restoration methods 

Location: Auditorium 

In this Peatland ACTION-led workshop, Technical Advice Manager Ian McKee will introduce the concept of the Scottish Peatland Standard along with further guidance including the “Principles of restoration” and a suite of decision trees. These resources, along with the Technical Compendium will be regularly updated, incorporating feedback from practitioners. The introduction of the Peatland Standard will drive innovation and improvements to restoration methods in Scotland, in terms of their effectiveness and value for money, and help improve consistency. Presenting a series of case studies from forest to bog restoration practitioners, this knowledge-sharing session will demonstrate the value of applying evidence-led restoration principles.  

Chaired by Ian McKee, NatureScot Peatland ACTION 

Speakers: 

Ian McKee, NatureScot Peatland ACTION 

Tim Cockerill, Forestry and Land Scotland 

Peter Greening, Duncan Wemyss Ltd.

 

Are we on the right track? Linear developments on peatlands 

Location: Strathspey suite 

This session will focus on linear developments: threats, scale, type (permanent and temporary) and associated regulations. Tracks and roads are a hidden and growing issue for peatlands, with research demonstrating impacts including chemical deposition, compaction, alteration of physical properties and divergence of vegetation communities from control areas. We will present research findings on the type, scale and impacts of linear developments, and discuss how best to mitigate them. We’ll also consider the interplay between policy and practice, how this varies across the UK, and how to achieve greater oversight and joined-up thinking on this issue.  

Chaired by David Large, University of Nottingham 

Speakers 

Jessica Fìor-Berry, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

Guaduneth Chico, National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) 

Arwel Williams, Welsh Government 

Andy Mills, OWC

Mike Shewring, RSPB 

 

Delivering community benefits from peatland projects

Location: Osprey Arena

This session will focus on community benefit sharing from Peatland Code and other projects. The main topics that will be discussed are:

• How do we define a community? Communities in the UK are organised in different ways and this has changed over time, creating challenges for benefit sharing.
• How do we manage challenges around sharing revenue and the potential mismatch between expectations and reality?
• How do we quantify non-financial benefits and how can these be shared?
• How do we develop clear guidance on ensuring parity in these types of projects?

​​​​​​Chaired by Renée Kerkvliet-Hermans, IUCN UK Peatland Programme

Speakers

Uwe Stoneman, Land Commission

Rachel Nixseaman, Deciding Matters

Kenna Chisholm, Flow Country Partnership

Matthew Hannon, University of Strathclyde

3pm - 3.30pm           Refreshments 

 

3.30pm – 4.30pm     Responding to the challenge plenary session (Auditorium)

A forward-looking panel discussion with members of our UK partnership who collectively own and deliver against the UK Peatland Strategy. We will reflect on the preceding three days of discussion, take home messages from the conference and the panel’s thoughts on how to respond to the challenge of the UK Peatland Strategy and the 2024 Progress Report.

Chaired by Stuart Brooks, IUCN UK Peatland Programme Co-Chair

4.30pm – 6pm  Conference close and pack down