I have been talking about peat in the East Anglian Fens for many years, but what we can't measure, we can't manage. I am so pleased, therefore, that we finally have a new peat map for England. As my colleague, Dr Ruth Waters writes, "England’s peat deposits are one of our most valuable national assets. They’re our largest carbon store, they filter most of our fresh water and help defend communities against flooding, and they’re home to irreplaceable plants and wildlife". 

As you delve into the map, you soon realise that reassuringly, much of our remaining deep peat is now designated and protected as a nature reserve. However, the only way to successfully manage a peatland site is to prevent oxidation of the carbon that is stored in the soil. This means keeping the water table high, which keeps the peat wet and prevents greenhouse gases being released.

Unfortunately, this is extremely difficult to do as our nature reserves are now higher than the neighbouring farmland, where the top peat soil has dried out, oxidised and blown or washed away. Many of you must have experienced the 'Fen Blow', where the wind whips up clouds of black dust that makes it seem like you're "driving through marmite". We heard recently from an elderly resident who remembered "the black dust would enter windows - even closed ones - and leave a black layer. If you were walking in it it would go into eyes, nose, mouth". Often romanticised, it's actually worrying evidence that the landscape needs our help.  

The cultivated peatlands have visibly shrunk several metres through their continued drainage and therefore, it is impossible to successfully manage these important wetland remnants in isolation. An analogy could be having a bath tub of rare wetland species such as marsh pea and fen violet perched above your garden. Even though you could have good water quality and make sure the bath tub is weeded and optimal wetness is maintained, the plants in the bathtub are totally separated from your garden and will never spread and thrive.

On the 2nd June, World Peatlands Day, I enjoyed talking about one of our rare remnants of ancient peat fenland, Woodwalton Fen NNR, to people just starting to understand the importance of peat. This was part of the Fens East Peat Partnership's series of events. Here, as we looked out across Darlow's Farm (restored land adjacent) and Speechly's Farm (newly purchased land beginning restoration) I could explain the solution to managing isolated peatland nature reserves and the rare flora and fauna within them, is to create new wetland habitats around them.

For the past 25 years, the Great Fen has been creating wetlands at scale, ensuring Woodwalton Fen has a buffer of restored habitat. Similarly, Wicken Fen, where I’m deeply involved, is gradually expanding beyond its nature reserve boundaries. These efforts are steps in the right direction, but are they ambitious enough to secure a sustainable future? No—not if we truly want to address climate change and biodiversity loss. 

Creating new wetlands isn't like building Lego landscapes (my other great passion), where pieces click neatly into place. The reality is far more complex. While projects like the Great Fen have begun reshaping the drained fens, true restoration requires long-term vision, policy change, and collaboration. If we act now, we can restore the lost wetlands of East Anglia—not just as isolated patches, but as a connected, thriving ecosystem. 

I'll delve into these ideas in subsequent blogs, but if you'd like to be taking action for peatlands right now, here are some ways to make a difference. 

• Support the organisations who are protecting your local peatlands - become members, attend events, follow them on social media and fundraise on their behalf.
• Commit to using peat-free compost and buying peat-free products. Reduce that demand for peat extraction.
• Learn about how amazing peatlands are, the carbon they store and the wildlife that rely on them.
• Visit your local peatlands and record the wildlife that you see. The more we know about the species which use them, the more evidence we have that they need our protection. 

Thank you!