The mysterious substance that is peat is the hot topic of the Dartmoor Society’s annual conference which is being held in the Charter Hall in Okehampton next month.

A number of experts will gather together for the day-long conference on November 12 to discuss the whys and wherefores of restoring peat bogs on the moor. Society secretary Caya Edwards said: ‘Many people are astonished to know that millions of pounds is spent on Dartmoor every year ‘restoring’ peat. How do you ‘restore’ peat and why is this necessary? How does contracting diggers to work blocking channels and gullies on the high moor impact on things like wading birds or sensitive and undiscovered archaeological sites? Is this work successful in raising water levels in the peat? The Dartmoor Society is interested, and we are holding our annual conference at Charter Hall, Okehampton on Friday, November 12.

She added: ‘Peat has been a source of our fire and water for millennia. These days, no one is allowed to dig peat for fuel, but it is still the source of much of our drinking water. The international spotlight is on Dartmoor, but the problem is that people don’t always agree on how to restore the peat or even whether peat restoration is necessary. We decided to gather together all the people involved in this and hold a conference so that all the many aspects are covered.’

This conference will show the multifaceted nature of the South West Peatland Partnership on Dartmoor. Each speaker has a different specialism and can talk from longstanding experience about their area of expertise. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the discussion sessions. To book see https://www.dartmoorsociety.com/events