British horticulturalist Alys Fowler delves into the fascinating world of bogs in her latest book, ‘Peatlands: A Journey Between Land and Water’. The book invites readers to discover these overlooked and unknown places, which have such beauty and importance for the planet. The North Pennines National Landscape team were delighted to have an opportunity to show Alys around some of the bogs of the North Pennines National Landscape as she researched the book, sharing with her their work restoring peatlands. 

Alys first heard about the North Pennines expansive blanket bog, when she listened to Paul Leadbitter, the North Pennines Peatland Programme Manager, talk at the IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference in 2022. The North Pennines has the largest area of contiguous blanket bog in England. Paul said, “It was a pleasure meeting Alys and being able to share with her the work we do and why private investment in our peatlands is so critical. We hope that readers of Alys’ book will be inspired by her enthusiasm and passion for bogs.”

In the book, Alys also mentions her experience of reading one of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme newsletters. She said you can find "a lot of joy" from reading stories about restoration projects and the improved outcomes for nature resulting from rewetting the peatlands.