PEATLAND RESTORATION
Rewilding Learning Day
Join Biodiversity Consultant, James Banks, to learn more about peatland ecosystems and how to restore them.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Peatlands cover more than 20% of Scotland’s land area and yet much of this water-purifying, carbon-storing habitat is in poor condition. Vast areas of peatland across Scotland are now being ‘re-wetted’ after centuries of being drained. The carbon that healthy peatlands lock away is significant – the blanket bogs in the Flow Country alone contain more than three times the carbon found in all of Britain’s woodlands combined.
Join our Learning Day to explore this important ecosystem and learn more about how to survey and restore peatland areas.
The Learning Day will cover:
- The key features of peatland ecosystems including common species, topographical characteristic and main erosional features
- How to distinguish between blanket bogs and raised bogs and fen ecosystems
- The importance of peatlands from the perspective of biodiversity, the atmosphere, hydrology and humans
- The requirement of field surveys, including peat depth, Vegetation and Condition Surveying and Herbivore Impact Assessments
- The main threats to the integrity of peatland systems and their ability to support biodiversity, store carbon and act as hydrological buffers
- How to recognise the features that indicate healthy and less healthy peatland ecosystems
- To be aware of the most common restoration techniques and their effective application
This Learning Day is for you if:
- you’re a student, graduate or interested in pursuing a career within the rewilding/nature restoration sector
- you’re a land manager interested in seeing rewilding in action and starting your own rewilding journey
- you’re enthusiastic about rewilding and want to learn more about the restoration of peatland habitat
DATES
| DATES | GUIDE | STATUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DATES: 24 Apr 2025 | GUIDES: James Banks | STATUS: Open | BOOK NOW |
PRICE
£95
PRICE INCLUDES
- Tea/coffee/biscuits on arrival
- All presentations, excursions and take-home resources
- Certification for course attendance
PRICE EXCLUDES
- Travel to/from the course
- Lunch (please bring a packed lunch)
- Personal expenses
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Timings
Arrival from 9.30am for tea/coffee/biscuits, for a 10am start. The day will wrap up after lunch, around 4pm.
How do I get there?
We are starting the day at the Glencorse Community Centre which lies on the outskirts of Auchendinny, around 3 miles south of the Straiton Junction on the Edinburgh Bypass.
Glencorse Community Centre
4 Firth Road, Auchendinny, EH26 0QZ
Phone 01968 670264
https://glencorsecentre.org.uk/contact/
Facilities
- Access to tea/coffee
- Access to toilets
What size are your groups?
This Learning Day accommodates up to 15 participants.
Is the course suitable for me?
The morning is spent indoors at Glencorse Community Centre. After lunch and a short drive, we put theory into practise and will be looking at the landscapes of Leadburn Community Woodland. The afternoon is spent walking slowly through woodland and across peatland (can be muddy and pathless). In order to access some parts of the site, we may deviate from the path crossing fallen trees. A reasonable degree of balance and agility is suggested. The overall distance covered will be around 2-3km. Please wear appropriate clothing and sturdy boots.
If you want to discuss suitability further, please get in touch with our Rewilding Training Lead.
Read our FAQ's for more info
VENUE
We will meet at Glencorse Community Centre for our indoor presentation before moving to Leadburn Community Woodland for the practical element of the Learning Day.
Leadburn Community Woodland has gradually transformed from a relatively high (280m altitude) flat and barren clearfell in 2001, to a mosaic of young habitats given a helping hand by planting, bog damming and the creation of pools.
