One of my regular days out on placement has been with the peat team. This has been one of my favourite days out at work.

The Northumberland Peat Partnership is working to preserve and restore areas of peat bog across Northumberland. Peatlands are a huge carbon store that provide homes to multiple ecosystems. Their restoration plays a large part in tackling the climate crisis. I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to assist the survey work across the Lampert Moss bog.

My first day on the peat bog came with rain (apparently this is a first day tradition), and there have been many more rainy days to follow. Waterproofs and wellies are essential for this work if you have any hopes of keeping dry. Despite the challenging weather the team keep high morale.

The site is split into transects with survey points marked to measure peat depths and at some points, vegetation surveys. Grips and gullies are also surveyed. The survey work is fascinating, and I was shocked by the depth of the peat with some measurements I recorded being over 6 metres! When walking between survey points it’s important to tread carefully as there are many hidden grips under the vegetation. Luckily, I have gotten away without any major trips!

The team have vast ecological knowledge, and I have been shown a large range of species. I was pleased to quickly be able to recognise different vegetation species. But having not studied peat before, the sphagnum on the bog was unfamiliar to me. It took a while, but I am now able to recognise and name some species of sphagnum and other mosses.

I am very grateful to have had this learning opportunity. The surveying is a skill that will definitely come in handy, and it has been a pleasure to be able to assist with such meaningful work!

Jody