What's New from Moors for the Future

Upland farming and biodiversity: What do we need to know? Friday 5 March 2010

A workshop at Losehill Hall to present and discuss both theoretical and practical issues including research undertaken by the Universities of Stirling and Sheffield originally funded through the Rural Economy and Land Use programme (RELU).

Programme

RELU Research Project Report & leaflets

• Hill Farming Report
• Leaflet 1 - AES & Policy
• Leaflet 2 - 100 Years of Change
• Leaflet 3 - Upland Farming & Biodiversity
• Leaflet 4 - Valuation

Presentations

• Introduction
• Lindsey Clothier - Defra
• Nick Hanley - University of Stirling
• Dan Hunt & Chris Reid - Natural England

Moors for the Future’s fifth Research Day Friday 20 June 2008

The Agricultural Business Centre, Agricultural Way, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AH
View abstracts of research contributions

Moors for the Future hosts major conference on climate change 19 -20 November 2007

More than 100 delegates from science, policy and practice gathered at Losehill Hall to explore the consequences of climate change for our uplands. The ’Climate Change and Upland Management’ conference was opened by Aberdeen University’s Professor Pete Smith, a member of the Nobel prize-winning intergovernmental panel for climate change. Professor Smith said: “We must act swiftly and strongly to mitigate climate change - it will cost, but not as much as the cost of inaction.” He also emphasized the importance of conserving the greatest carbon stores in Britain: peatlands in the uplands.

Fred Worrall and Martin Evans from the Universities of Durham and Manchester asked whether peat is the new black gold. UK peat stores more carbon than forests of Britain and France combined, which equals about 20 years of the UK’s CO2 output.

Will land managers soon be ‘carbon managers?’ Natural England’s chief scientist Tom Tew chaired a discussion on new challenges and adaptations to climate change. Issues involve not only warmer temperatures, but increased wildfire risks, impacts on eco-systems, clean water, flood protection and wildlife conservation.

The £1m Moorland Centre - roofed with sedum turf and heated from the earth - was opened in September 2006 as both a visitor centre and the UK’s first moorland research base.