New Peatland Qualification Launched for Secondary Schools

The Crichton Carbon Centre has developed a course “Introduction to Peatlands”, a Customised Award qualification that has been SCQF credit rated by SQA and is available to secondary schools.

This comprehensive qualification covers everything pupils require to gain a solid understanding of peatlands and their role in the water and carbon cycles, biodiversity, land-uses, and their degradation and restoration. It is designed to complement existing qualifications such as Environmental Sciences.

A peatland at Cunningsburgh, Shetland.

Scotland’s land is over 20% peatland and yet around 80% of it is degraded, releasing over 15% of the country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. As efforts to restore Scotland’s peatlands ramp up, we know there will be a need for more skilled workers, alongside further resources to support efforts to turn these important landscapes back into a natural carbon sink. It is hoped that this qualification will contribute to an increase in the capacity of contractors, farmers, foresters, and nature organisations to restore and manage peatlands.

Dr Emily Taylor, Director for CCC, says, “We’re thrilled to be able to share technical peatland expertise with the next generation through this qualification. There are so many opportunities now for people to get involved with peatlands and even develop careers in peatland restoration and management. Establishing this understanding within our schools and helping to develop the workforce of the future is extremely important and exciting.”

Micro gullies and hags on a degraded peatland.

The Crichton Carbon Centre is based in Dumfries and Galloway and restores peatlands in Southwest Scotland on behalf of Peatland ACTION. Since 2017, the Centre has also delivered Peatland Restoration Training throughout Scotland and from 2023 has also supported partners in Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to develop peatland restoration programmes.

Introduction to Peatlands consists of two mandatory and one optional unit at SCQF level 5: healthy and degraded peatlands, Scottish peatlands, and a peatland survey respectively. Interested teachers across Scotland can contact their SQA Regional Manager for award approval information.

Creator of the award, Carys Mainprize, says, “Peatlands are iconic Scottish landscapes tied deeply to our cultural roots and are integral to the rural economy. This qualification is for any pupil keen to explore these connections or who is considering working with the land or water in any way.”

She adds, “A huge thanks to Peatland ACTION, SQA, and the rest of the CCC team for their time and expertise.”

Anne Murray, Peatland ACTION Workforce Development Adviser within NatureScot said: “Peatland ACTION is delighted to have provided support and funding as part of the development of this qualification which will provide an important learning pathway into the sector for young people across Scotland.”

Support for teachers interested in delivering the award is available via a suite of ready-made lesson presentations, created by CCC officer Phoebe Gray. For more information contact info@carboncentre.org

This award has received support and funding from the Scottish Government’s Peatland ACTION Programme led by NatureScot and delivered in partnership with other agencies.

Notes to the editors:

About Crichton Carbon Centre

The Centre, based in Dumfries and Galloway, is a not-for-profit which focuses on practical rural climate solutions, working on peatland restoration, carbon management, sustainable land-use, environmental education, and socioecological art. 

We train practitioners in how to restore peatland; we advise policy makers and champions on carbon science; and we run educational programmes and projects to reduce damaging impacts on the planet. We play a key role in bringing people together, to form consensus and to restore carbon ecosystems. For further information about the Crichton Carbon Centre, visit: https://www.carboncentre.org/

About Peatland ACTION

Peatland ACTION is a national programme to restore peatlands across Scotland for the many benefits to both people and nature. Peatland ACTION funding comes through the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan for net zero, with a commitment to invest £250 million to support the restoration of 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030.

Peatland ACTION provides funding, support and advice to deliver on-the-ground peatland restoration and is delivered in a partnership led by NatureScot alongside Cairngorms National Park Authority, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority, Scottish Water, and Forestry and Land Scotland.

For further information about Peatland ACTION, visit: www.nature.scot/peatlandaction