Paludiculture
Paludiculture: Productive Farming on Wet and Rewetted Peatlands
Paludiculture is the productive use of wet and rewetted peatlands, enabling farming systems that maintain high water tables while keeping land economically viable. By moving away from drainage‑based agriculture, paludiculture reduces greenhouse gas emissions, protects peat soils, and supports resilient farming businesses across the UK.
The Importance of Paludiculture
Paludiculture, or wetter farming, is the practice of growing crops that are suited to wetland conditions, often peatland. By carefully changing existing land drainage to raise the water table, these crops can then be farmed, ensuring the land remains financially viable.
Drained peat soils release large quantities of carbon dioxide as peat oxidises. Rewetting peatlands helps to lock carbon into the soil, significantly reducing emissions while slowing land subsidence. Paludiculture makes this possible by supporting crops and farming systems that are adapted to wet conditions rather than dependent on drainage.
For a further introduction to paludiculture read the Natural England blog “Paludiculture – the future of farming on peat soils?“ and the The Lancashire Wildlife Trust "What is wetter farming?" blog post.
For a more comprehensive appraisal of paludiculture:
A guide to support the practical implementation of paludiculture systems
Managing for a sustainable future: Cropping systems on drained lowland peat (pdf)
Impacts of paludiculture on the natural environment: a scoping report (pdf)
Who is this site for?
This website supports farmers, land managers, advisors, policymakers, researchers, and supply‑chain partners who are exploring or developing paludiculture systems on lowland peat soils. It brings together UK‑specific guidance, projects, events, and the latest policy and funding information.
Explore Paludiculture in Practice
Use this site to learn about paludiculture crops, establishment and management, UK projects and trials, and how wetter farming fits within national climate, nature, and agricultural policy.
What is paludiculture?
‘From the Fens, With the Fens, For the Fens’ by Lucy Mitchell. Reproduced with permission from Lucy Mitchell
Paludiculture is a system of agriculture designed for wet and rewetted peatlands. Instead of lowering water tables through drainage, paludiculture maintains wetter conditions and grows crops that are adapted to high water levels. This protects peat soils while allowing land to remain productive. More >>
Videos
Talking Paludiculture
The Talking Paludiculture vlog is hosted by Megan Hudson (Fenland Soil), (https://vimeo.com/showcase/talking-paludiculture-pod). The podacasts are hosted by Elizabeth Stockdale (Niab). A new episode will be published every second week.
Exploring new approaches to willow growing under paludiculture conditions
Nicola Coates – Coates English Willow, and Fi Holder – FWAG SW and beef farmer on the Somerset Levels and Moors
On-farm development and trials of willow production systems
Re-invigorating old systems of production under wetter conditions
Changing weather patterns and reducing resilience of current systems
Co-delivering flood risk management together with production systems
Limited information and availability of green finance options
Farmer experiences of farming and grassland management in the Somerset Levels
Cultural heritage and history in willow systems
Role of grant schemes and their constraints alongside developing business options
Experiences in the Lancashire Mosses (3)
Tim Parfitt – Beadmoss, producers of sphagnum plugs and seed, Kathryn Wright – Wright Farm Produce, and Cameron Edwards – arable farmer on peat
Building on experience with the carbon farm – a rewetted area with management that is actively seeking to build peat again in the landscape
Opportunities to integrate paludiculture into arable and horticultural systems on peat soils
Innovators and farmers sharing experiences and their desire to grow ‘something’ and produce crops for a range of uses
Useful publications
Lowland agricultural peat characteristics which influence water quality and peat hydrology
A major Environment Agency research programme has revealed that rewetting agricultural peat is far more complex than simply raising ditch water levels. Drawing on hydrology, water-quality and field-monitoring studies, the LP3+ project highlights how climate, drainage design, peat condition and water availability all shape the success of peatland restoration and paludiculture.
Environment Agency
2026
Paludiculture
The Savills & Vitagrasss Farms (Holker) Ltd paludiculture report highlights the strong potential of wetter farming systems, backed by practical, on‑farm insights. Its value lies in real trial lessons, clear guidance on soil and water preparation, and a focused review of the wetland crops most likely to succeed commercially.
Savills & Holker Estate
2026
Transitioning from Degraded Peat to Paludiculture: Evidence-Based Roadmap for Research and Practice
Paludiculture, the sustainable productive use of wet and rewetted peat soils, offers a dual
solution for preserving soil carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions whilst offering a
form of income for landowners/farmers. However, establishing best practices for the transition
to wet agriculture production systems remains difficult due to the inherent variability
of peatland sites. This study synthesises evidence from the peer-reviewed literature, grey
literature, and stakeholder surveys to map current practices, concepts, knowledge gaps, and
research priorities. The main gap is a lack of long-term studies tracking crops from establishment
through multiple harvests. Practical knowledge is also geography-ically, limiting
applicability without local environmental and policy context. Further critical gaps include
crop species selection, upscaling, biodiversity impacts, specialised harvesting equipment,
and evolving end-product markets, alongside country-specific legal and financial barriers.
Key recommendations include establishing a robust initial site investigation as edaphic
properties and previous land-use can inform crop establishment and potential operational
hurdles. Furthermore, increased funding for long-term farm-based projects, technological
innovation and prioritising producing data that supports finance models must be made
available to offset the costs of transitioning and developing new, system-level agronomical
tools. Ultimately, scaling paludiculture hinges on robust incentive frameworks, shared
knowledge platforms, and standardised nomenclature to guarantee long-term environmental
and economic sustainability.
Jessen, L. et al.
2026
A guide to support practical implementation of paludiculture systems
This guide is intended to provide guidance and support for the conversion of land and farms to paludiculture and is primarily aimed at farmers and owners of peatland who are considering or already planning this conversion. The aim of the guide is to summarise current knowledge and present the individual steps needed for conversion clearly.
A translation of the Leitfaden Fur Die Umsetzung Von Paludikultur
2025
More paliudiculture resources can be found here>>
Research
Working together to explore a range of innovative solutions
Transitioning from Degraded Peat to Paludiculture: Evidence-Based Roadmap for Research and Practice
Paludiculture offers significant potential to reduce peatland carbon emissions while maintaining agricultural productivity, but its wider adoption depends on long-term research, locally relevant knowledge, technological innovation, supportive financial and policy frameworks, and robust site-specific planning to overcome agronomic, ecological and market uncertainties.