Understanding long-term spatio-temporal ecological changes in degraded peatlands to inform restoration in The Great Fen, East Anglia

The Great Fen (GF) is one of the largest peatland areas in the UK and is home to some of the region’s rarest wildlife. However, approximately 99% of the peatland has been drained for peat farming over recent centuries. The amount of carbon stored in the fen and the influence of human activity on its development remain poorly understood. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire (WT-BCN) is currently working to restore and transform the GF by creating wetland habitats that support biodiversity. In collaboration with the WT-BCN, this study applies multi-proxy palaeoecological evidence to investigate long-term changes in vegetation, peat carbon, fire history, and land use in recently acquired drained and farmed fenland sites, as well as links between these ecological facets to inform ongoing restoration efforts in the area.