Scotland's Moorland Forum Public Online Discussion

Following its Summer Site Visit and Discussion Meeting which took place in mid-June, Scotland's Moorland Forum cordially invites you to attend its public online discussion event. Both the Discussion Meeting and this public event cover the topic of muirburn.

The Scottish Government plans to license muirburning and to introduce further restrictions to where it can be practised. Scotland's Moorland Forum is keen to examine the benefits and drawbacks of both the practice and the proposed restrictions.

We'd be delighted for you to join us to discuss the topic at the public online event via a Teams webinar, on 1st August from 7-8pm BST.

The event will take the format of our Chair, Hugh Raven, in conversation with our three expert contributors:

Dr Emily Taylor

Dr Emily Taylor heads up the Crichton Carbon Centre and oversees all of its projects. Emily is an environmental scientist and peatland specialist. She has designed and delivered peatland restoration projects across the south-west for almost 10 years and delivers the, the highly popular programme of Peatland Action restoration training events throughout Scotland. Emily will provide a perspective on peatland restoration and the trajectory towards fully restored blanket bogs. Emily comes from a family farming background on Coll, and now lives in Dumfries and Galloway.

Professor Robin Pakeman

Robin is a plant ecologist at the James Hutton Institute, focussing on the management and functioning of biodiversity in a range of Scottish ecosystems. He currently leads the Natural Assets Theme of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme.

He is a Visiting Professor in the School of Biological Science at the University of Liverpool, a Chartered Ecologist and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. He is a Coordinating Editor of the Nordic Journal of Botany and a Subject Editor for Oikos. He is an author of over 190 refereed publications as well as numerous reports to government departments and statutory agencies.

Robin was also part of the team that delivered the earlier mentioned evidence reviews for Scottish Government and an author of NatureScot’s Scientific Advisory Group’s report on Sustainable Moorland Management (https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-11/Guidance-A-Review-of-Sustainable-Moorland-Management-A1765931.pdf).

Patrick Laurie

Patrick is a farmer, author and wildlife enthusiast from Galloway. After seven years as a project manager at the Heather Trust, he moved to Soil Association to run their Farming with Nature programme with RSPB and Scottish Water. He now works as a consultant with twelve estates and farms in the Southern Uplands, helping them to deliver integrated and sustainable moorland management for grouse shooting, agriculture and the conservation of wading birds. Patrick has written two books on farming and moorland conservation and is heavily involved with both the Working for Waders initiative and the Nature Friendly Farming Network. He manages his own moorland with grazing, muirburn and cutting practices and as such can give us a valuable insight into the benefits and limitations of these techniques.

There will be an opportunity for attendees to submit questions for the speakers ahead of the discussion. We look forward to welcoming you.