Watch Peatlands – COP30, Climate change and peatland connections for a brighter future.

Friday 28th November, 11.30am-1pm, online via Teams.

Join Art and Energy and guest speakers for our final online broadcast session for Peat-Fest South-West.

This broadcast will feature speakers sharing their expertise on the impact of COP30 and the climate agenda on the ways peatlands will be managed in the future. We’ll hear from speakers who work on the ground to care for the Somerset Wetlands and the Dorset Heathlands and Mires.

• Climate Change for peatlands – has COP30 made a difference about the way ahead in managing our peatland connections:  Steve Mewes, LNP Coordinator & Advocacy Manager - Somerset Wildlife Trust

• What is the Peatland Code, and how does it affect the management of peatlands for a changing climate in the future.  Garance Wood-Moulin - Peatland Code Development Lead - IUCN Peatland Programme

• How did COP 30 affect the future management of peatlands. Cisca Devereux, volunteer with RE-PEAT and the Peatland Justice Campaign.

• Peatland restoration work in Somerset and Dorset (in conversation). Louise Treneman - Senior Reserve Manager/Senior Officer for Peat Restoration at Natural England & Grace Hervé - Dorset Peat Partnership Project Manager

• Making change in response to the climate and ecological emergencies at community scale. Jenny Ayrton - Art and Energy

All welcome to join us, this is a free event thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This will be an online session hosted via Teams, the session will be recorded and the recording will be shared publicly and form part of the lasting legacy of Peat-Fest South-West.

The online Teams link will be shared with all attendees in advance.

Please book your free place to join us.

hello[@]artandenergy.org

Power Station (12A)

The screening on Wednesday 26th November (fuel poverty awareness day) will be presented in collaboration with Plymouth Energy Community.

A panel discussion and Q&A will follow the film including Art and Energy’s Chloe Uden.

On Wednesday 26th November, the Sunlight Gathering artwork will be displayed in the reception area.
Sunlight Gathering invites people to sit, connect, and celebrate creativity and the magic of solar energy. This unique collaborative artwork uses interactive pads in the floor and seat to trigger lights and is charged through a unique etched recycled solar panel. Hand-crafted, embossed decorations were co-created with members of the local community and Plymouth Energy Community. Created by The Art and Energy Collective, with the aim to spark all sorts of conversations about the importance of solar power.

Plymouth Energy Community provide impartial energy & retrofit advice to households across the city. Their community solar farm in Ernesettle donates its profits to help tackle fuel poverty in Plymouth. They also manage a network of 30 community-owned rooftop solar sites, ensuring schools and community buildings have access to cheap low carbon energy.

PEC’s ambition in the next year is to increase the amount of solar in the city to create more local clean energy, protect nature, and reinvesting profits right here in Plymouth.

Book your tickets here

About the film: Power Station (12A)

Dir. Hilary Powell, Dan Edelstyn, UK, 2025, 90 mins.

Inspired by lockdown mutual aid initiatives, artist-activists Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn decided to turn their street into an energy-generating powerhouse - a prototype for a new way of living, with the hope of galvanising a wider push towards sustainable alternatives. Directed by the duo, Power Station charts their turbulent journey, from pitching the idea to their neighbours and sleeping on the roof of their home, to raising finance and launching a bid for a Christmas number one single. By turns funny and heartwarming, the film is a vibrant portrait of their local neighbourhood, and a charming testament to the power of art in changing minds about what could be possible.

Join us to celebrate all the achievements of Peat-Fest South-West with our project partners and collaborators from around the regions

Come along to listen to bog stories, readings and performances that have bubbled up from young people exploring the peatlands of the Southwest region.  From Dorsets peatland pockets, Somerset’s peaty fens and marshes to the blanket bogs on the Moors, we will share our love of these carbon rich and climate crucial landscapes, hear more of their heritage and the beginnings of a young persons manifesto - making a declaration for their future. 

All welcome to come along and join us, Saturday 22nd November. 1pm – 3pm.

Book a place if you can so we have an idea of numbers but you are welcome to drop in on the day.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

To celebrate our love of peatlands we are holding a Peat-za party, with free veggie pizza & drink for all young people who book in advance.

Peat-Fest South-West invites all the young people we have worked with across the regions to join us on Saturday 22nd November to celebrate how much we all love peatlands.

Join us:

12-1pm: Peat-za party - free vegetarian pizza and drink for all young people who book to join us.

1-3pm: We will share together what we have discovered about peat! Peat pockets in Dorset, peat marshes in Somerset and blanket bogs on the moors, We will all listen to a range of voices telling bog stories and presenting the beginnings of a manifesto - your ideas for the future care and enjoyment of peatlands across the South-West region.

Vegetarian pizza and drink must be booked in advance.

If you are a young person (~12-25years) or you’d like to bring young people to the Peat-za party then please contact us to discuss in more detail - hello[@]artandenergy.org

Join Art and Energy for a very special Private View of this celebration of everything The Art and Energy Collective has grown – from our beginnings, through the Mossy Carpet, to Peat-Fest South-West and creative restoration projects.

This exclusive event will be held on Tuesday 18th November, 5-8pm at Market Hall, Plymouth.

Come along to see all 75 metres of The Mossy Carpet on display, a selection of our interactive solar artworks, experience the 360 dome at Market Hall plus performances of The Mossy Story written by Micha Colombo and performed by Far Flung CIC.

We have limited places for our Private View evening, please book your place to join us.

• 5pm - Arrive

• 5.30pm - Mossy film (360 dome)

• 6pm - Welcome and speeches

• 6.45pm & 7.30pm - Performances (360 dome)

• 8pm - Finish

Visit the Market Hall website for further information about parking, public transport, accessibility and refreshments.

Numbers will be limited for all activities taking place in the 360 dome.

Art and Energy are looking for volunteers to join us for three sew-on sessions to help us get The Mossy Carpet ready for our grand finale in November.

Join us on:

• Friday 7th November

• Wednesday 12th November

• Friday 14th November

10am - 1pm at Market Hall, Plymouth.

Over the past year we’ve had hundreds of pompoms and textile pieces posted to us for The Mossy Carpet, now we need to add these to the fleece backing of the artwork.

There will also be repairs to the existing rolls of Mossy Carpet - restitching pompoms and tidying loose threads.

All equipment will be provided, just come along ready to get sewing and stitching with a friendly welcoming group of like minded people.

No experience necessary, we’ll show you what’s needed and what to do.

These events are open to everyone but aimed at adults who want to grow our artwork, children can come along but the activities are not aimed at them.

Please book to join us, we’d welcome your help any time between 10am - 1pm but you don’t need to stay for the full session.

Book your free place to join us.

Visit the Market Hall website for further information about free local parking, public transport and accessibility. The Market Hall cafe will be open for you to purchase refreshments.

Art and Energy are looking for volunteers to join us for three sew-on sessions to help us get The Mossy Carpet ready for our grand finale in November.

Join us on:

• Friday 7th November

• Wednesday 12th November

• Friday 14th November

10am - 1pm at Market Hall, Plymouth.

Over the past year we’ve had hundreds of pompoms and textile pieces posted to us for The Mossy Carpet, now we need to add these to the fleece backing of the artwork.

There will also be repairs to the existing rolls of Mossy Carpet - restitching pompoms and tidying loose threads.

All equipment will be provided, just come along ready to get sewing and stitching with a friendly welcoming group of like minded people.

No experience necessary, we’ll show you what’s needed and what to do.

These events are open to everyone but aimed at adults who want to grow our artwork, children can come along but the activities are not aimed at them.

Please book to join us, we’d welcome your help any time between 10am - 1pm but you don’t need to stay for the full session.

Book your free place to join us.

Visit the Market Hall website for further information about free local parking, public transport and accessibility. The Market Hall cafe will be open for you to purchase refreshments.

Art and Energy will host an online broadcast session as part of Peat-Fest South-West, join us for Peatland Stories: Peatlands, our heritage, and the role of creativity.

We will have a range of voices reflecting our peatland heritage from across the country and within the South-West region, these voices will tell the stories of our heritage below the peatland surface and nature and peatland specialists who use art to support and strengthen their knowledge.

Speakers include:

• Ben Totterdell from Exmoor National Park sharing how young rangers help to enrich the heritage of the peatlands of Exmoor

• Jane Akerman, IUCN UK Peatland Programme – an overview of the heritage of peatlands, and how various artists have revealed different ways of understanding

• Chloe Uden, Director and Founder, Art and Energy - the role of creativity in making change for a better future

• Rachael Milliner, RE-PEAT, sharing how RE-PEAT uses creativity to make the case for peatland justice

• Rose Ferraby and Melanie Giles – How the art of archaeology or peat tells stories and opens up the imagination – a conversation

• Additional speakers to be confirmed.

Join us for an early lunch break to hear peatland stories and stimulate new ways to think about, and engage with, our peatland landscapes.

All welcome to join us.

This will be an online session hosted via Teams, the session will be recorded and the recording will be shared publicly and form part of the lasting legacy of Peat-Fest South-West.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Art and Energy are looking for volunteers to join us for three sew-on sessions to help us get The Mossy Carpet ready for our grand finale in November.

Join us on:

• Friday 7th November

• Wednesday 12th November

• Friday 14th November

10am - 1pm at Market Hall, Plymouth.

Over the past year we’ve had hundreds of pompoms and textile pieces posted to us for The Mossy Carpet, now we need to add these to the fleece backing of the artwork.

There will also be repairs to the existing rolls of Mossy Carpet - restitching pompoms and tidying loose threads.

All equipment will be provided, just come along ready to get sewing and stitching with a friendly welcoming group of like minded people.

No experience necessary, we’ll show you what’s needed and what to do.

These events are open to everyone but aimed at adults who want to grow our artwork, children can come along but the activities are not aimed at them.

Please book to join us, we’d welcome your help any time between 10am - 1pm but you don’t need to stay for the full session.

Book your free place to join us.

Visit the Market Hall website for further information about free local parking, public transport and accessibility. The Market Hall cafe will be open for you to purchase refreshments.

Join Art and Energy at The Beehive in Honiton for our last Mossy Carpet creative workshop.

This free drop-in workshop is open to all children and families (and visitors of all ages!)

Wednesday 29th October 2025

Drop in any time 11am - 2pm, no need to book to join us.

The Mossy Carpet is an artwork inspired by moss and made by many people.

Thousands of individually made pom-poms and textile tufts adorn fleecy felt from Dartmoor, creating a beautiful mossy carpet. Each pompom represents someone’s small attempt to make the world better for all of life.

We hope this artwork will be inspiring, comforting, hopeful, fabulous and friendly, showing that together, we can make something magnificent. Make your own textile tufts and pompoms to join in!

Creative activities help us to slow down, have better conversations, imagine new things, have fun and feel more connected.

This is your last chance to join us in making The Mossy Carpet! We will be displaying the final completed artwork at The Market Hall in Plymouth from the 17-23 November during COP30 - The UN Conference on Climate Change, to show just how many people there are who want to be part of making the world a better place for all of life.

Visit The Beehive’s website for further information about parking, accessibility and refreshments.

Discover the magic of the bog – and become a peatland champion!

Join us for a free, one-day creative workshop all about the unique landscape, stories and wildlife of the Avalon Marshes. As part of Peat Fest South West, this interactive day is designed especially for young people aged 14–19 who want to get stuck into nature, heritage, art and activism.

We’ll walk, observe, draw, write, record and play – all while learning about the peatlands and their incredible role in shaping Somerset’s landscape, biodiversity and communities.

Morning session (outdoors on Westhay Moor NNR):

• Guided walk to a peatland restoration site

• Hands-on planting and surveying

• Get to know mosses, dragonflies, and hidden wetland wonders

Afternoon session (back at the Avalon Marshes Centre):

• Get creative with poetry and map-making inspired by the bog

• Play dialect games and share local stories

• Help us shape what happens at the Peat Fest celebration on 9 August

 Why come along?

• Make your voice heard about the future of our local landscape

• Learn new creative and environmental skills

• Connect with other young people and local organisations

• Be part of something bigger: help create content for the Peatland Manifesto and take part in the South West Peat Fest celebration

Important info

• This event is outdoors for part of the day – please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes

• Free to attend, but spaces are limited to 20 young people. All materials provided.

• Vegetarian lunch and snacks provided (please let us know any dietary needs when booking).

• Accessible options are available for those unable to join the morning walk – join us at lunchtime for the creative afternoon

• Travel bursaries are available for those who would not otherwise be able to attend – just let us know when booking

Contact

For more information email somersetnnrs@naturalengland.org.uk

About Peat-Fest South-West 2025

This event is hosted by Natural England and Somerset Wildlife Trust, in partnership with RE-PEAT – a youth-led collective changing hearts and minds through a shared love for peatlands and a commitment to protecting them.

It’s part of Peat-Fest South-West, a regional celebration encouraging thousands of people to discover, connect with, and fall in love with our precious peatland landscapes.

The Art and Energy Collective has been awarded funding by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to collaborate with peatland restoration and cultural organisations across the South West – including the Avalon Marshes Partnership – to bring peatlands to life through art, storytelling and community action.

Join us as we put the species spotlight on the wonderful world of sphagnum moss, a key bog building species, and its vital role in the rehabilitation of the peatlands at Westhay Moor.

Join us and take action in the face of the climate and ecological emergencies

To improve sphagnum coverage on the site we will be planting sphagnum plugs on one of our most recently restored areas. Planting involves finding a spot where conditions look right and planting the sphagnum plug, making sure to pinch the hole snug around the plug so it doesn’t dry out. Whatever the weather is up to on the day, conditions underfoot are likely to be wet and boggy in places - so wellies are advised!

There are no welfare facilities available at our Westhay Moor Reserve, the nearest facilities are at the Avalon Marshes Centre, BA6 9TT.

This session is suitable for those between 16 and 24 years old. We do not expect parents or guardians to attend the session.

Come along to join in with the Young Archaeologists' Creative Writing Workshop part of Heritage Day at Liskeard Public Hall.

Led by Rachael Milliner (RE-PEAT), Rachael Land (South West Peatland Partnership) & Liz Dale (Cornish author/blogger) and in partnership with Cornwall National Landscape, this workshop forms part of our join Peat-Fest South-West project.

At this workshop you will explore the Boggy Beauty and Bounty of Bodmin Moor through storytelling and imagination — open to children and curious adults alike!

The Heritage Day runs 10am - 4pm with the creative writing workshop in the afternoon.

Join in on the day with talks, workshops, folklore, archaeology, and more — plus pasties, poetry, and plenty of local pride.

Free entry — all are welcome!

Contact Federation of Old Cornwall Societies for further details.

Wild connections - reaching hearts and minds of young people

Join Art and Energy for an online training session to share learning and discuss ways to engage young people with the great outdoors.

The session is open to all and will feature a number of speakers with expertise working with young people in a range of outdoor settings. There will be time for questions and discussions at this friendly relaxed session.

Speakers include:

• Frankie Turk & Rachael Milliner from RE-PEAT - a youth-led collective changing hearts and minds for and through peatlands.

• Karen Price - an experienced Youth & Community worker, specialising in Outdoor Learning and Nature Connection initiatives, with a focus on equity, access and inclusion.

• David Onah, Programme Officer at Shallowford Farm, leading a wide range of farm based activities for residential youth groups, supporting young people from inner city communities to spend time on Dartmoor and on a working farm.

• Naomi Wright, artist, ecologist, Director - Art and Energy.

This event forms part of our Peat-Fest South-West work but the sharing and learning will apply more widely than moorland and peatland habitats.

Details are just being confirmed, this event will require online booking and a link for the online session will then be shared with attendees.

Booking essential via Eventbrite.

Bogtastic Workshop part of Peat-Fest South-West

Experience Exmoor’s peat bogs with a free creative workshop for all ages.

Morning - visit as area of Exmoor’s peat bogs and learn about the history and ecology of peatlands and why we are protecting them.

Afternoon - relaxed session to connect and understand peatlands through craft, technology and other creative sessions.

Transport can be provided from Barnstaple or other local areas if required - please make contact to discuss.

Tea, coffee and cake will be provided.

Book your free place

Contact pioneers@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk for more information.

Art and Energy will be at this year’s Union Street party with our friends at Plymouth Energy Community.

The party is free and full of music, activities, food, performances, and goodies to buy from local makers! So come along and join in with the #loveonthestreet.

https://www.nudge.community/unionstreetparty

Discovery Fest, 20 Sept 2025

📍 Shore Road, Swanage
📅 Saturday 20 September 2025 | 🕙 10am – 3pm

We are delighted to announce ‘Discovery Fest’ – as part of Dorset Coast Forum’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations, we are joining up with Peat-Fest South-West and Planet Purbeck to present this joint vibrant, family-friendly festival by the sea.

👉 FREE family fun day

👉 Explore Dorset’s stunning coastline, wildlife, and natural landscapes

👉 Over 30 exciting activities and exhibitors

👉 Location: Shore Road, Swanage (the pedestrianised section of Shore Road between the Mowlem and Victoria Avenue)

👉 Parking: Please use Swanage town car parks. Info here:  Car Parking | Swanage Town Council

Learn more about our Let’s Make Change programme with Plymouth Culture.

We’ll be sharing more information about the programme. This is an opportunity for you to also ask any questions you may have before applying.

All welcome to find out more at this free session.

This session will be via Teams, please register to join us.

Find our North Devon Craftivist friends at the South Molton Eco Fair and join in with their community piece for The Mossy Carpet.

This will be the last chance for you to add to their community piece before The Mossy Carpet Grand Finale in November.

Bring your wellies and waterproofs for a fun day on Bodmin Moor, learning about and exploring all things bogs and the past.

The South West Peatland Partnership and Cornwall National Landscape Monumental Improvement project have teamed up to bring an exciting day of activities to Bodmin Moor.

Young explorers will have hours of fun with various archaeological and nature based games to get involved with at this area of peatland that has had restoration works to make it wetter and better for wildlife and the planet. Don’t miss out!

This event is part of Peat-Fest South West, a region-wide celebration supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and delivered in partnership with the Art and Energy Collective and conservation organisations across the South West.

Booking is essential. Book your free tickets.

When is this event?

Saturday 13 September 1pm – 4pm

All welcome, but mainly aimed at families with children aged 8-14. Young people must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event. Up to 3 children per adult attending.

Where is this event?

Crowdy Marsh, Davidstow Airfield Runway, Davidstow, Camelford, PL32 9XZ. Exact parking location will be shared nearer the time.

What to expect at this event?

These are the various activities happening on the day including discovering lots of plant species, peatland habitat colouring, pond dipping, make your own Bog Monster and archaeological activities.

What to bring for this event?

Please make sure to bring appropriate clothing depending on the weather. Wellies and/or waterproof boots are highly recommended. Please bring any medication you require with you as well as sunhats, sun cream, plenty of water and snacks to keep you energised for the duration of the event. Parents/Guardians must accompany their children at all times.

Additional Information:

This event is on Bodmin Moor and therefore will not have any public convenience facilities. If the weather is extremely poor, the event will be postponed. Please make sure to check you emails in the lead up to the event in case of cancellation.

Booking is essential for this event

This event is brought to you by South West Peatland Partnership in collaboration with Cornwall National Landscape and with thanks to South West Lakes Trust.

Once you have accepted the RSVP to confirm your attendance, your data will be used to contact you only in regard to this event and nothing more. Your data will only be shared between the organisers of this event – Cornwall National Landscape and the South West Peatland Partnership.

POSTPONED: Beautiful Bogs

A free workshop to explore and celebrate these special habitats for young people aged 13 to 17.

• Get hands on with the habitat

• Take a closer look under the microscope

• Get creative with bog-based art and writing

When: Sunday September 7- 09.30 to 15.00 (lunch provided)

Where: Pinkery Centre for Outdoor learning, TA24 7LL

Scan the QR code to sign up or click here

We love opening our post box and discovering your wonderful moss-inspired pompoms, intricate textile tufts, and larger collaborative community art pieces.

We enjoy taking our time and sewing these pieces onto The Mossy Carpet, ensuring that each pompom, tuft and piece contributes to the overall beauty and meaning of the artwork.

The time has now come for us to set a deadline to receive your wonderful creations, so please ensure that they are in our post box by Monday, 1st September, 2025.

The Art and Energy team will then make sure everything you send us is meticulously added to The Mossy Carpet artwork before the final presentation of the project.

• Post to The Art and Energy Collective, PO Box 961, Exeter, EX1 9DF

• Drop off in Plymouth to Scrapstore or Central Library.

• Bring along to any of our events.

• Contact us to arrange a drop off in Plympton, Plymouth (hello@ artandenergy.org)

Peatland Restoration Walk with Dartmoor National Park and South West Peatland Partnership

Meet at Haytor Visitor Centre before taking a minibus shuttle to Saddle Tor and enjoy a walk out to Emsworthy Mire to see Dartmoor peatlands. You’ll have a chance to learn about the South West Peatland Partnership's restoration work and all things boggy on the way to and from Emsworthy.

This is a moderate walk that includes a few strenuous hills and crosses open moorland. Sturdy footwear, waterproofs, hats etc will be essential.

Date: Friday 29th August 2025

Time: 10.30am - 1pm

Length: 3 miles

Start location: Haytor Visitor Centre

Dog friendly? Well behaved dogs on short leads welcome.

Accessible walk: Unfortunately not.

Guide: Rachael Land

Part of the Dartmoor Outdoor Festival - 29th August - 5th September 2025

Celebrating community and the best of what Dartmoor has to offer.

Full details on the Dartmoor Outdoor Festival website.

Free Ecology Days with Exmoor National Park Rangers available for young people this Summer!

Join Exmoor National Park’s rangers to explore different habitats and experience ecological surveying – no experience necessary! For ages 16-18, these will be fun entry level days for people that are interested in nature.

-Peatland: Thursday 28 August

Each day runs 10:30am – 3:30pm. Please bring suitable clothing for the weather and lunch (we'll provide free cake !).

Further details for the day will be sent after signing up. To book a space email Izzy at izzyburns@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk stating the days you would like to book (or book a ticket and we'll get in touch).

Further details for the day will be sent closer to the each date.

Ecology Action Days are not part of Peat-Fest South-West funding but are made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Peat-Fest South-West is taking place in Exmoor working in partnership with Exmoor National Park.

Meldon Wildlife Festival

Join the National Park and partners for a wild day out celebrating Dartmoor's unique and beautiful wildlife. A free fun-filled, event for all the family!

The theme for 2025 is “Bogtastic Dartmoor”-celebrating all of Dartmoor’s wildlife with a spotlight on Bogs and Mires.

There will be lots of wildlife activities to help you get closer to nature and nature crafts to take home. More details to follow but here is a quick taster of some of the things planned

• Stream dipping- see signs on the day for times

• Minibeast hunts

• Ranger Ralph wildlife craft

• Barn Owl Pellet Dissection with the Barn Owl Trust

• Butterfly Conservation

• Mammal Tracks and signs quiz and mammal related craft activities + skulls, droppings, nibbled hazelnuts and stuffed specimens with Devon Mammal Group

• Reptile walk, slow worms in a tank and reptile and amphibian craft activities with Devon Amphibian and Reptile Group

• Discover Dartmoor invasive plants- quiz and colouring activity with Dartmoor Invasive Project and South West Water

• Museum of Dartmoor Life

• National Trust

• Discover Dartmoor's bogs - spot the difference, stick the beak on a snip, interactive water display with South West Peatland Partnership

• Refreshments from 1st Okehampton Scout Group

• Ice creams from  Taw River Dairy

• Snail and Minibeast activity from Adventure Okehampton

• Why not grab your phone and become a Look Wild i-Naturalist to help us record the wildlife you see on Dartmoor or take part in our Time for Nature Challenge

• Water themed obstacle course participatory event - seen signs on the day for times

Spend the day with us and our wildlife partners at a beautiful part of Dartmoor.

We would like to thank the landowners Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council and the Duchy of Cornwall, and Adventure Okehampton, who lease the land, for their support in making this event possible.

Facilities

Free parking, toilets, and refreshments available to purchase.

Getting there

From Okehampton: Follow the B3260 uphill and look for Meldon Quarry sign. Turn left just before Betty Cottles. Follow road over A30, through the woods, under viaduct and look out for car park entrance to Meldon Old Quarry on right.

From Tavistock & A30 Cornwall: Follow signs to Okehampton leaving the A30 via slip road. Turn left onto B3260 towards Okehampton until you see Betty Cottles on your left, take next road on right marked Meldon Quarry. Follow road over A30, through the woods, under viaduct and look out for car park entrance to Meldon Old Quarry on the right.

Join Joe Hampson, Honeygar Wilding Officer, for an exciting day at Honeygar, our first-ever Wilded site!

This unique opportunity will have you carrying out species surveys to track nature's recovery and gain insights into how invertebrate communities are thriving thanks to our wilding approach. Be part of real conservation work, learn new skills, and help us understand the impact of restoring nature. Don’t miss your chance to make a difference!

This session is suitable for those between 14 and 18 years old. We do not expect parents or guardians to attend the session.

There will always be a member of staff or highly trained volunteer and first aider on site.

Join us for a unique opportunity to explore the heart of the Avalon Marshes with a free guided walks of the peatland restoration site at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve.

During the walk, you’ll learn about:

• The history and ecology of Somerset’s peatlands

• How restoring bogs helps wildlife and tackles climate change

• What’s involved in peatland conservation and how you can help

The walks will last around 2 hours, over uneven and sometimes wet ground. Please wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for the weather.

This event is part of the Avalon Marshes Peat-Fest Open Day taking place at the Avalon Marshes Centre. This celebration of our unique boggy landscapes takes places 10am-4pm with hands-on activities, stalls, and art installations including the incredible Mossy Carpet.

For more information contact somersetnnrs@naturalengland.org.uk

Book to join us either 10.30am - 12.30pm or 2-4pm.

About Peat-Fest South-West 2025

This event is part of Peat-Fest South-West, a region-wide celebration of our connections with peatlands, running through summer and autumn 2025. Led by the Art and Energy Collective and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, it brings together youth groups, artists, heritage organisations and volunteers to raise awareness of peatland heritage through creative events, intergenerational exchanges, and storytelling.