An engaging few months with Lancashire Peat Partnership

Lois Clark, engagement officer for Lancashire Peat Partnership shares what her first six months have been like, and what's next for spreading the word about peat?

A girl wearing a headband holding some moss

Hello! I’m Lois, and I joined the Lancashire Peat Partnership (LPP) last year as the Engagement Officer. My role focuses on expanding public awareness of peatlands, developing volunteering opportunities, supporting community outreach, and building stronger links between restoration work and the people who benefit from it.

Now that I’m six months into the role, I wanted to reflect on what we’ve been working on so far, and share a glimpse of what’s ahead for the next phase of LPP’s engagement work.

The first six months - building momentum and connection

It’s been a busy and exciting start to the programme, with a key focus on laying foundations for long-term engagement.

A group of people on a sunny, frost covered hill

A stand at an event with lots of leaflets on the table

Growing volunteer participation

Autumn and winter saw the launch of regular peatland volunteer days across Aushaw Moss. Volunteers have helped plant thousands of sphagnum moss plugs, while learning about peatland habitats and the role of restoration in climate resilience, biodiversity, and flood mitigation. Many volunteers joined us for the very first time, and have since returned many times!

A sunny moorland with a hand holding a bog squad badge

Introducing the “Bog Squad”

To support that volunteer energy, we created the “Bog Squad” - a fun identity that helps frame restoration work in an accessible way. Volunteers now receive badges and are fuelled by lots of sweet treats, and the Bog Squad has already become a recognisable part of our peatland engagement offer. It’s creating a community around restoration, which we’re keen to keep nurturing.

Expanding outreach and visibility

The LPP have been present at a number of public events including the National Festival of Making, EarthSonic Live at Manchester Museum, as well as at talks and pop up stalls. We’ve also begun working with local communities & groups, offering workshops and field-based learning opportunities. This has helped us connect peatlands to people who may not have encountered them before.

Looking ahead - the next six months and beyond

And we’re only just getting started - the next six months are full of exciting plans to grow and build on this momentum.

Continued Bog Squad sessions

We still have three more sessions left this year and have the aim to continue participation through Bog Squad events during ground nesting bird season (responsibly, quietly and carefully!).

Volunteer sessions

A class of A level students learning about peatlands

Schools & youth engagement

We’re currently developing a package of peatland learning offers for schools, youth groups, and higher education institutions, including indoor workshops, outdoor sessions, and curriculum-linked materials.

Community-driven partnerships

LPP is working to build lasting relationships with local community groups, events, creative organisations, and hiking/outdoor networks. This work helps embed peatlands within wider cultural and place-based narratives - not just conservation.

Three people on a moorland with Darwen tower in the background

Why engagement matters

Lancashire’s peatlands are internationally important for carbon storage, flood mitigation, water quality, and biodiversity. However, many of these landscapes sit out of sight and out of mind - despite benefiting the communities that surround them.

Engagement helps bridge that gap by:

making peatlands visible
making restoration meaningful
involving people directly in climate action
inspiring future environmental stewards

The response so far has shown a genuine appetite for learning, volunteering, and participation. From seasoned conservationists to people attending their first-ever outdoor session, the enthusiasm has been encouraging and energising.

I’m grateful to everyone who has joined us on the moors through rain, snow, wind, and the occasional clear sky - and to all the teams working hard behind the scenes to make peat restoration possible in Lancashire.

Here’s to the next six months of connection, collaboration, and muddy boots.

If you’re interested in anything mentioned here - volunteering, schools or youth workshops, community partnerships, events, the sphagnum growing project, or simply learning more about peatlands - please feel free to get in touch. We’re always happy to hear from individuals, organisations, educators, and groups who want to connect with peatland restoration in Lancashire.

Lois Clark