Why Wetter Peatlands Matter: A Fresh Look at the UK’s Path to Climate Ready Landscapes

Peatlands may look like quiet, unassuming places—but they’re among the UK’s most powerful natural assets. Storing over 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon, shaping landscapes, reducing flood risk, and supporting vibrant wildlife, these water‑logged ecosystems are doing far more than meets the eye. Yet centuries of drainage for farming and development have left around 90% of the UK’s lowland peatlands degraded and emitting carbon instead of storing it.

A new policy‑focused document from the University of Leicester, based on the research of Zoe Lipkens, Towards Wetter Peatland Landscapes for Climate, People and Nature, sets out how rewetting these landscapes—and embracing “wetter farming” through paludiculture—can help the UK meet climate targets while supporting farmers, communities, and nature.

Rewetting: A win for climate, people, and nature

Rewetting peat soils stops the carbon losses that occur when drained peat oxidises. It also boosts biodiversity, slows land subsidence, manages water more naturally, and opens up new farming opportunities. That’s where paludiculture comes in: growing crops that thrive in wet conditions, allowing farmers to earn an income while keeping peatlands healthy.

Ecosystem service markets, such as the fast‑growing Peatland Code, also offer new income streams for restoring peatlands—though tenant farmers are rightly concerned about fair access and long‑term security.

What farmers and communities are saying

Research from the University of Leicester highlights that while many farmers value the wildlife and landscape benefits of rewetting, they’re less motivated by abstract carbon goals. Building trust, improving local support networks, and expanding technical expertise will be essential. Right now, skilled peatland restoration practitioners are already at capacity.

There’s also growing discussion around how to ensure a “just transition”—one that doesn’t disadvantage tenant farmers or concentrate power among large landowners and investors.

Charting a fair transition

The document calls for a range of actions to help the UK move towards wetter, climate‑resilient peatland landscapes, including:

• A Just Peatland Transition Framework for England

• Clear safeguards for ecosystem service markets

• Regional Wetter Farming Boards to support local delivery

• Training and support for farmers and land managers

• Knowledge hubs and expanded education to build technical expertise

In short, transforming the UK’s lowland peatlands isn’t just about hitting net‑zero targets. It’s about reshaping landscapes in a way that supports rural communities, restores nature, and creates long‑term resilience.

You might also be interested in another blog post written by Zoe, “Your next puffer jacket could be made from bulrushes, as carbon‑storing peat farming takes off” in The Conversation