New research shows novel wetland agriculture can support nature recovery
New CLR research led by Dr Joshua Copping (RSPB) and Dr Catherine Waite (University of Cambridge) shows that farming wetland-adapted crops on wetter peat (known as paludiculture) can support bird communities that are richer and more diverse than those found on drained grassland.
Paludiculture sites contained three times more birds than drained agricultural grassland sites, including several threatened bird species and, in some cases, bird numbers similar to those of adjacent natural wetlands.
The research compared bird populations across three land-use types: natural wetlands; paludiculture (re-wetted peatlands) growing bulrush (Typha); and drained agricultural grassland.
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What is paludiculture?
Paludiculture is the productive use of wet or re-wetted peatlands. Instead of draining peat soils for agriculture (which releases large amounts of carbon), paludiculture keeps water levels higher and grows crops that are adapted to wet conditions.
Why this matters for landscape regeneration
Lowland peatlands, such as the East Anglian Fens and Somerset Levels, play a critical role in storing carbon and supporting wildlife, but centuries of drainage for agriculture, and intensification of these practices over the years has led to peat degradation and loss, rising emissions, and biodiversity declines.
Previous research has shown that raising water levels on peat soils can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow peat degradation. This study adds an important ecological perspective by showing that wetter forms of farming can also support bird populations at levels higher than conventional drained grassland.
For landscape regeneration, this matters because it shows how nature recovery can be integrated into working landscapes, demonstrating that productive farming can coexist with climate and nature benefits. In some contexts, this could complement full peatland restoration approaches.
Reflecting on the research, Dr Joshua Copping said:
Working across the RSPB and the Centre for Landscape Regeneration helps turn ecological evidence into practical land-use insight. The bird responses we observed in paludiculture systems suggest it could play a role in supporting biodiversity and informing future approaches to peat-friendly farming in the Fens.
By grounding discussions of alternative land management in observed ecological outcomes, the research helps build a clearer picture of how landscapes might be managed to better support nature in the long term.
More birds, and greater diversity
A wide range of species were recorded at the paludiculture sites. These included wetland specialists such as Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, and Sedge Warbler, alongside species more commonly associated with grassland.
Several species found were of European conservation concern, including Eurasian Oystercatcher, Meadow Pipit, and Eurasian Coot. Although these are common species in the UK, this snapshot showed a bird community that was both larger and more diverse than that found on drained farmland. While the trial sites were based in the Netherlands, the findings are relevant to peatland landscapes elsewhere, including the UK.
Although paludiculture does not re-create natural wetland habitats, this study suggests it can function as a useful habitat within wider wetland and grassland mosaics. Its contribution to increasing bird numbers is likely to depend on specific management practices, however. In particular, the timing of cutting and harvesting is important, as operations carried out during the breeding season may increase disturbance and reduce breeding success.
What This Means for the Cambridgeshire Fens
As part of the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy, peatland restoration has been highlighted as a crucial target. Paludiculture offers a way to continue productive farming in these areas while contributing to climate and nature benefits, potentially complementing full peatland restoration. By maintaining viable farming practices alongside environmental gains, this approach can support farmers’ livelihoods and deliver measurable social, economic, and ecological value.
The Cambridgeshire Fens are an important peatland landscape, supporting both farming and biodiversity. CLR’s research shows that paludiculture can provide a productive use for re-wetted peatlands while supporting rich and diverse bird communities.
Dr Catherine Waite, University of Cambridge and co-lead author:
As pressures on land continue to grow, research like this provides vital insight into how different land management choices affect nature. This evidence is key to informing local and landscape level management decisions that balance environmental and human needs.
Read more about our work in the Fens
This study forms part of a wider programme of CLR research in the Cambridgeshire Fens that explores how different land management choices shape ecological processes, environmental outcomes, and future landscape possibilities. Related work by Nigel G. Taylor, Impacts of paludiculture on the natural environment, examines the varied and sometimes complex environmental interactions associated with paludiculture, offering a broader context for interpreting the bird responses observed here.
Taken together, these strands of research contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how peatland landscapes might be managed over time, and the trade-offs, complementarities, and uncertainties involved.