Lowland carbon peat soils are precious - from storing vast amounts of carbon to being a key wildlife, food and hydrological resource. Yet they are severely degraded, leading to soil and nature loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. This session will explore the tools we have to rethink agriculture on lowland peat. Live from Groundswell 2025 Chair - Vicki Hird (The Wildlife Trusts) Panel - Phil Jarvis - Albanwise Ltd Sarah-Jane Taylor - Oxwillow Sarah Johnson - Lancashire Wildlife Trust Cameron Edwards - Farmer

In this video we discover how scientists and farmers are teaming up in the Broads National Park to tackle climate change by rewetting peat soils. This video takes you to Langley Abbey, Chestnut Farm and Horsey Estate, where innovative monitoring tools and sustainable farming practices are helping to raise water tables, reduce carbon emissions, and restore vital ecosystems. Learn how peat cameras, water table models, and wetland crops like reedmace are being used to monitor peat health and explore new eco-friendly materials. This project aims to inspire a future of climate-smart farming, carbon storage, and nature recovery in one of the UK’s most important wetlands. For more information please see: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/looking-after/projects

We used a drone to sow the first typha (bulrush) seeds at our latest wetter farming project at Gore House Farm, West Lancashire. Read the article below to learn more about the project: https://www.lancswt.org.uk/news/new-bulrush-wetter-farming-trial-gets-underway This project has been made possible thanks to funding from the Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot administered by the Environment Agency on behalf of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Wetter farming is the process of raising the water table on drained farmland and growing crops which thrive in these conditions. The aim of wetter farming practices is to reduce the carbon emissions from drained land, whilst keeping it financially viable for the farmer or landowner. However there are a number of practical and policy considerations that need to be taken into account when thinking about implementing wetter farming. This animation introduces some of the considerations that need to be taken if you are thinking about wetter farming. For an introduction to wetter farming check out our other animation - What is wetter farming? - at https://youtu.be/u94xYxCucpw?si=byox9YDEV5t5Pm05 This work has been funded by the Environment Agency.

Wetter farming, also known as paludiculture, is the practice of farming land that had previously been drained but now has a restored naturally higher water table. But what do farmers think about it? Our peat team have been working to find out. The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside peat team are at the forefront of research into wetter farming methods, with current trails growing sphagnum moss, bulrushes and traditional food crops including celery, lettuce and blueberries. Whilst early results are promising, showing that by re-wetting areas of previously drained lowland agricultural peat, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the land, whilst also keeping it productive and hopefully financially viable. One of the big questions is what do farmers actually think about all this? Clearly the opinions of farmers and land managers are vital to understand if wetter farming is going to be adopted as part of sustainable land uses going forwards. Learn more about our wetter farming work below: https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/what-wetter-farming

Wetter farming is the process of re-wetting farmland that has been drained, but would naturally be wet and boggy, and growing crops that thrive in these wetter conditions. Find out more about wetter farming, why we should be considering it, and how to do it.