IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference 2025: Water Connections: from Source to Sea

PLEASE NOTE: IN PERSON TICKETS AND ONLINE TICKETS ARE NO LONGER ON SALE. 

Our annual conference series provides a valuable convening function for the UK peatland community to share knowledge, enthusiasm and experience and seek solutions to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. We bring together everyone with an interest in these unique and precious habitats, from land managers, policy makers and businesses to restoration practitioners, creatives and scientists.

Our 2025 conference is being delivered as part of Northern Ireland Environment Link annual Environment Week, which has a peatland focus this year. This is an exciting time for peatlands in Northern Ireland, with progress now being made towards a national Peatland Strategy, the first Peatland Code projects now registered, and restoration starting to upscale.

The conference takes us to the Ebrington Hotel in the old walled city of Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland. In our venue on the banks of the River Foyle and in visits to diverse peatlands across the region, we’ll be exploring the theme ‘Water Connections: from Source to Sea’. We’ll explore the deep cultural associations and sense of identity connected to peatlands in Northern Ireland, and policy drivers reflecting changing attitudes to peatland management. We’ll also examine the importance of water in these landscapes and the role of peatlands at catchment scale as a nature-based solution.

To make our conferences as inclusive and accessible as we can, we’re using a hybrid format, with remote attendance available for our plenary sessions on 30th September. 

View from Ebrington Hotel, Derry~Londonderry.

What to expect

• ~350 delegates at this year’s event. In-person delegates will be able to join the entire event or individual days, and online delegates will be able to join our plenary sessions on the 30th September only.

• Exhibition and networking opportunities at our evening poster session and meal on 30th September, our evening conference dinner on 1st October, and throughout the event.

• Visits to locally important peatland sites on 1st October, including options from a range of peatland habitats, and experience of different management and restoration techniques first-hand in a beautiful landscape.

• Deep-dives into a range of themed topics at our workshop and knowledge-sharing sessions on 2nd October.

Programme outline

Tuesday 30th September

• Plenary sessions introducing the work of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, Northern Ireland’s progress towards a national Peatland Strategy and the cultural history of Northern Ireland’s peatlands. We’ll also feature a water research panel discussion and showcase peatlands from around the world in our Virtual Peatlands Pavilion.

• Evening meal and poster session featuring contributions from across the peatland community, alongside our dedicated exhibition space for partners and sponsors. Try your hand at our ‘Peatland Bingo’ networking event, and get to know fellow delegates.

Wednesday 1st October

• Choose from a variety of field trip options to local peatland sites, featuring different peatland habitats, management and restoration techniques and introducing a range of organisations involved in peatland management. Lunch and transport will be provided from the main conference venue and delegates will be required to select field trips in advance on a first come, first served basis.

• Conference dinner, networking and evening entertainment.

Beaghmore Stone Circles. Image: Ulster Wildlife.

Thursday 2nd October

• Opening plenary sharing successes and challenges for the latest generation of peatland restoration practitioners.
• Morning and afternoon workshop or knowledge-sharing sessions from a range of themes including water regulation, quality and quantity; paludiculture; developing technologies; mosaic habitats; improving restoration practice and community engagement. Delegates will be required to select workshops in advance on a first come, first served basis.
• Plenary session reflecting on findings from the conference and the future of the water environment with representatives from across the UK.

Altikeeragh ASSI. Image: Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.

Terms and conditions

Please note that: the full three day ticket includes all refreshments and lunches across the three days, as well as an evening meal on days 1 and 2. Day 1 tickets include refreshments, lunch and the evening meal. Day 2 tickets include refreshments, a packed lunch and the conference dinner. Day 3 tickets include refreshments and lunch. Travel and accommodation are not included in the ticket price.

Visit our dedicated webpage for information on conference travel and accommodation, including how to access our special conference rate at the Ebrington Hotel.

Refund policy

We will offer full refunds up to 60 days before the conference minus any transaction and booking fees. No refunds will be available after this time, but you may transfer your ticket to a new name until 1st September 2025.

Main Image: Cuilcagh Mountain SAC, Paul Corbett.