I am a PhD student interested in the palaeoecology of UK peatlands and the value of this research for conservation.  As part of my PhD research, I am particularly interested in how we can utilise effective research – practice collaborative methods and work with conservation practitioners to increase the impact of palaeoecological research on peatland restoration practice.  Palaeoecology can hold great potential value for supporting conservation by offering a long-term environmental history that likely precludes existing survey data and may give insight into baseline conditions for vegetation, hydrology, and microbial activity, as well as revealing trajectories of environmental change and threshold conditions under climatic and anthropogenic pressure. However, there are numerous barriers that can prevent research impact and perpetuate a recognized science – practice gap if not addressed. 

My PhD project utilizes testate amoebae and plant macrofossils to understand past water table and bog vegetation.  It focuses on three lowland raised bog sites within the Greater Manchester region and involves collaboration with Lancashire and Cheshire Wildlife Trusts throughout the research process to guide the ongoing restoration work.