Wetter Farming in Practice

Section 2 and 3 explore how wetter farming (paludiculture) is being implemented on drained peatlands in Northwest England to reduce emissions while keeping farmland productive. Through real case studies presented by Dr. Mike Longden, learners will see how farmers are trialing crops like Typha, Sphagnum, celery, lettuce, blueberries, Chinese leaf, and radish on rewetted agricultural peat using engineered water management systems comprised of bunds, pumps, telemetry sensors, and reservoirs.

The module covers why wetter farming is needed, including the problems caused by peat drainage—greenhouse gas emissions, peat subsidence, flooding, and declining crop performance. It demonstrates measurable climate benefits, such as emissions reductions (~4–5 tons CO₂e per hectare for every 10 cm water table rise), and major biodiversity gains. It also highlights economic opportunities through crop revenue, carbon credits, and biodiversity or high water- table payments.

What You’ll Learn

In this section, learners will explore how wetter farming (paludiculture) is being successfully implemented on peatland farms in Northwest England to reduce climate emissions while maintaining agricultural productivity. Through real examples and field results, you will learn:

• Why wetter farming is needed—understanding the impacts of peat drainage, including emissions, subsidence, and long-term soil loss.

• How water management systems are engineered to raise water tables on farmland using bunds, pumps, telemetry, and controlled reservoirs.

• What crops can be grown on rewetted peat, including Typha, Sphagnum moss, blueberries, celery, lettuce, radish, and Chinese leaf.

• How carbon savings and biodiversity benefits are measured, and what early scientific results show about emissions reductions and ecosystem recovery.

• Economic and market opportunities, such as carbon credits, biodiversity payments, and potential new revenue streams for farmers.

• Practical lessons learned from real farm trials and how these experiences can guide emerging projects in Ireland and other peatland regions.

How This Module Works

This module combines:

• Expert instruction from Dr. Mike Longden based on trial sites across Northwest England

• Case study walkthroughs, including Chat Moss, Sphagnum carbon farming, and vegetable production on rewetted peat

• Visual examples and field data demonstrating engineering design, crop performance, and monitoring outcomes

• Knowledge checks to reinforce learning

  
  

By the end of the section, learners will have both the scientific understanding and practical implementation insight needed to evaluate wetter farming as a real-world solution for climate, agriculture, and community development.

Peatlands are among the most powerful natural tools we have for climate action, biodiversity protection, and resilient rural economies. Yet when degraded, they become major sources of carbon emissions, water pollution, and landscape instability. Restoring peatlands—and financing that restoration sustainably—is both a scientific and strategic challenge, and an area of rapid innovation across Europe.

This module will guide you through real-world examples from the North Pennines National Landscape in Northern England, home to one of the largest and most successful blanket bog restoration programmes in Europe. You will learn not only how restoration is carried out on the ground, but also how carbon finance is structured and delivered through the UK Peatland Code, and what lessons Ireland can bring into its own emerging peatland carbon standard.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand why peatlands matter—for climate, water, biodiversity, and rural communities

• Recognise the characteristics of degraded peatlands and common restoration techniques used in upland blanket bogs

• Explain the structure and purpose of the UK Peatland Code and how carbon credits are earned and verified

• Understand key financial concepts including PIUs (Pending Issuance Units), PCUs (Peatland Carbon Units), additionality, monitoring, and long-term agreements

• Explore how carbon markets are developing and what influences pricing, risk, and investor confidence

• Compare the UK’s decade of experience with Ireland’s new Peatland Standard and identify opportunities for improvement

• Evaluate the role of private and public finance within long-term restoration and climate action

How This Module Works

This module combines:

• Webinar-based learning from restoration and carbon finance practitioners

• Real case studies from North Pennines National Landscape

• Comparative learning between UK and Irish peatland policy and practice

• Short knowledge checks and applied exercises