This, the 12th conference in our annual series, will focus on “Peatland restoration: delivering effective plans and strategies on the ground”.

This year’s theme will celebrate the UK’s progress and activity to date and provide an opportunity for the peatland community to identify a path forwards to delivering restoration at the scale and urgency required.

This year’s event is delivered in partnership with New for LIFE Welsh Raised bogsproject, Natural Resources Wales, Natural England's Marches Mosses BogLIFE and Pennine PeatLIFE and we would like to welcome you to Aberystwyth for our first in person conference since 2019. The event will be held on the 4th-6th October 2022 with opportunities for additional site visits on the 7th.

The conference presents an opportunity for policy makers, scientists, land managers, practitioners, businesses and communicators to connect and share their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for peatlands.

Over 200 local, national and international delegates from across sectors will come together over 4 days to explore themes including:

Progress made towards UK Peatland Strategy goals
Scaling up delivery of restoration
Update on key peatland topics
Natural Capital & Innovative Investment
Evidence & priority research needs
Restoration challenges, new developments & best practice

Programme of Events

Across the 4 days activities will include:

Conference hub at the Aberystwyth arts centre with a programme of presentations & workshops on Days 1 and 3 including a focus on:
UK overview and updates on major partnership initiatives
Lowland raised bog restoration: policy, practice and technical considerations
Forest to bog restoration: Policy and practicalities of restoration
Scaling up delivery: addressing the gaps in skills, capacity and finance
Evidence and monitoring
The latest science, research and partnership initiatives: call for abstracts for a series of short presentation will open shortly (please check the IUCN UK Peatland Programme Website)

Day 2 dedicated to field trips with the option to extend your visit with an additional Day 4 field trip (see below)
Poster, exhibition and presentation spaces
Networking breaks including refreshments and lunch throughout the conference and evening hot fork buffets and entertainment

Field trips: Day 2 and optional Day 4

Field trip options will give delegates the opportunity to visit a range of Welsh peatlands and view the different restoration, management, monitoring and community engagement approaches being employed. These will include lowland bog hydrological management, forest to bog restoration, Molina management and greenhouse gas and vegetation monitoring. Sites will include Cors Caron & Cors Focno SACs, Cernydd Carmel & Llyn llech Owain, Coed Tywi Forest and Llyn Efyrnwy. Further details of each site and focus of the visits will be sent via email to registered delegates with an opportunity to select preferences.

This year there is also the opportunity for further optional field trips after the main conference has drawn to a close. These will be on the Friday 7th of October and there will be a choice of visiting one of the below with the option of drop off at a local train station (Shrewsbury or Port Talbot) or return to Aberystwyth.

Marches mosses BogLIFE Fenn’s and Whixall Mosses SAC reserve on the border of Wales with Shropshire
Launch event of LIFE Quake project at Crymlyn Bog near Swansea.

FAQs

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please email info@iucn.org.uk with any queries.

Ticket availability:

Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. The 3 Day conference ticket includes access to the full event from 9:30 on Tuesday 4th of October to 15:30 on Thursday 6th of October including mid conference field trips. Early bird tickets will be available until Thursday 18th of August, after which full price tickets will be available until Friday 16th of September. A number of discounted tickets are available for current students and these can be selected via EventBrite. Please submit evidence of student status to info@iucn.org.uk after completion of booking.

There is a choice of two additional field trips on Friday the 7th of October after the conference close to either the Marches Mosses Bog LIFE project Fenn’s and Whixall Mosses SAC or the LIFE Quake launch event – both will offer onward travel to the nearest train station or return to Aberystwyth. If you wish to attend one of these please select the specific optional field trip add on after selecting your ticket – Spaces on these trips are limited.

A number of separate evening tickets are also available for those not attending the main conference but wishing to join the networking and poster session on Tuesday 7th of October. Individual day tickets will be released after August 18th subject to capacity.

Please progress to the ticket booking page for more information.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is not provided as part of the conference ticket. Limited accommodation in shared flats is available for you to book on the University Campus within 5 minutes walk of the venue. These are limited and will be available on a first come first served basis. These single rooms are part of flats with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities (2 toilets and 2 showers per 8 rooms). These flats will be shared with other conference delegates. Bed linen and towels are included. The cost is £30 pp per night for conference delegates and breakfast at the campus food hall can be included for an additional £6 per night. These can be booked using the link and promotional code received as part of the Eventbrite booking confirmation (or a separate email for those who booked before these details were confirmed).

Alternatively, there are a number of other accommodation options available in Aberystwyth which are listed on the visit Wales page.

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

The Conference is open to delegates aged 18 years and over.

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Please see https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/how-find-us

Will I be able to present?

There is opportunity through-out the conference to exhibit a poster or have an exhibition stand if booked in advance. You can request to present a poster or exhibit during the ticket registration process.

There are also a limited number of slots available in open presentation sessions on Thursday 6th of October. A call for abstracts will open soon and is open to all corners of the peatland community including but not limited to artists, practitioners and academics.

We will confirm exhibitor allocations 30 days before the conference.

Please note: you must be available to present your poster or exhibit during the evening session on Tuesday 4th of October.

What's the refund policy?

Refunds are only available up to 30 days before the event. After the 4th of September tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled. Refunds will include the ticket price less the Eventbrite fees (which consists of the payment processing fee and the service fee combined) with two exceptions. Eventbrite will refund fees if the event is cancelled or if the buyer has been charged multiple times in error and requests a refund within 7 days of purchase. If the event is cancelled, refunds will be for the entire purchase—that includes the ticket price and the Eventbrite fees.

Can I update my registration information?

There is opportunity to edit your registration details at a later date however please be aware that any changes made after the 4th of September may not be accommodated.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferrable?

Yes, ticket holders are able to transfer their ticket to another type of ticket subject to availability. Any differences in ticket pricing will be charged. Please also inform us as soon as possible of any dietary or access requirements of the attending delegate and we will do our best to accommodate any changes

Is it ok if the name on my ticket or registration doesn't match the person who attends?

Yes, but you must inform info@iucn.org.uk of any discrepancies for security purposes.

IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference 2022