University wins Educate North Award for partnership to restore Yorkshire's peat bogs

13 May 2026

An innovative joint project between University researchers and the Yorkshire Peat Partnership which has found new ways to restore eroded peatlands was recognised as best Sustainable Green Initiative at the ENAs

This 12th ENAs highlighted excellence, world-class achievements and improvement across the University, HE, FE and Sixth Form sectors in the North of England, with colleagues in the School of Environment, Education and Development scooping the award for best Sustainable Green Initiative.

The award was presented for PeatFix, an innovative approach to upland peatland restoration which has been pioneered through an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the University of Manchester and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. PeatFix is a hydroseeding technique that successfully re-vegetates steep, degraded peat slopes – critical for reducing carbon emissions, improving biodiversity, and mitigating flood risk. 

The PeatFix team includes Dr Emma Shuttleworth (Geography), former SEED of School and Honorary Professor of Geography Martin Evans and Emeritus Professor of Geography Tim Allott.

This innovative partnership demonstrates how academic expertise and conservation practice can combine to tackle one of the UK’s most pressing environmental challenges. Find out more about PeatFix here.