An art-based study led by the British Geological Survey aims to bring together different viewpoints on working with peat soils from scientists, artists and farmers to develop ways to work more sustainably with such soils.
Agriculture on peat soils creates some of the highest greenhouse gas emissions, however the experience of actually working with peat soils is rarely expressed. This work is to highlight some of these lived experiences, considering aspects such as geology, geoscience, eco-ecology, carbon-water dynamics, music and eco-art, alongside peatland farming. These narratives of lived personal experience of working with peat soils will be described in an illustrated publication and extracts from these narratives will be used to inform a documented experiential guide to support peatland farming to reduce greenhouse emissions.
“Peatlands are wild. It’s boggy and it is not really that welcoming most of the time, but when you actually dare to look under your feet, there can be two or three metres of peat laid down over maybe 8,000 years.” - Quotation from an Ecosystem Ecologist
