Opportunities for education and research

The University of Edinburgh's Forest and Peatland Programme (FPP) focuses on restoring peatlands and expanding forests in Scotland to combat climate change, enhance biodiversity, and support local communities. On this page you'll find all the essential information for accessing the sites for learning, research, and teaching opportunities.

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Liz Poulsom working on ground control point survey at Drumbrae
Airborne Research and Innovation field work at Drumbrae

By integrating academic research, hands-on learning, and long-term environmental monitoring, the programme creates unique opportunities for education, research, and community engagement across both University-owned and partner sites.

The sites serve as dynamic operational environments, where a variety of activities are actively undertaken. These include:

  • ground preparation and tree planting for woodland creation
  • peatland restoration
  • habitat management
  • public engagement and access.

While these sites are prioritised for operational functions, they also present exciting and important opportunities for education and research. One of the key benefits of having University-owned sites is the unique ability to integrate academic research, hands-on learning, and long-term environmental monitoring, providing a ‘living laboratory’ for students, staff, and external collaborators alike.

Whole-institution approach

The Forest and Peatland Programme aims to be fully integrated into the University’s curriculum, research, and experiential learning opportunities. 

The vision, mapped out in the Learning, Teaching, and Research Strategy (LTR) 2023-2028 is for the whole University community to have opportunities to access these land assets—both our own and, where possible, those of our partners—for teaching, recreation, enhancing the student and staff experience, and for generating meaningful research impact across Scotland and internationally.

Even without visiting these sites there will be access to site related datasets that enabling desk-based studies and learning. The LTR strategy outlines the objectives and actions needed to realise this vision for the University, and highlights the range of benefits from the Programme sites.

Forest and Peatland Learning, Teaching and Research Strategy 2023-2028

Objectives

  • Ensure our forests and peatland and those of our partners are resilient to expected climate change impacts and are sustainably managed.
  • Mobilise our sites as Living Lab opportunities for research and teaching to enhance the broader student experience across all disciplines.
  • Implement baseline and continuous monitoring to assess land-use change and ensure sustainable management.
  • Restore, enhance and maintain ecosystem services using best practice measures and effective management.
  • Create a digital data strategy and implementation plan to record longitudinal data on land-use change and climate adaptability
  • Engage with the University community so that the project becomes part of the life of the University, for all our students, staff and alums, through educational opportunities and recreational access.
  • Engage with communities and businesses near our sites to identify and co-develop benefits, such as educational opportunities and recreational access to nature.

As the programme is in its early stages, the team are working through the actions that still need to happen both in the short and long term for us to meet the LTR objectives over time.

Watch the video

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In this one minute, 31 second video, Community Ranger, Julie Wilson, explains the Forest and Peatland project, with Dr Matt Bell, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Ecology and Evolution.

Are you considering LTR activities at the Forest and Peatland sites?

As with any land-based research, one of the key steps is obtaining permission from the land managers/owners—in this case, the Forest and Peatland operational team, and in certain cases the Forest and Peatland board.  For partnership sites, it may be the partners themselves.

A permission process has been established to:

  • Safeguard ongoing operations;
  • Mitigate potential risks or harm to individuals and the environment;
  • Maintain public access;
  • Ensure compliance with ethical guidelines;
  • For partnership sites, to secure approval from external landowners

While site access cannot be guaranteed, the team will work closely with applicants, offering advice and guidelines on how to meet the necessary criteria and explore alternative solutions when needed.

The approval process will vary depending on the nature of the visit/activities. For activities compliant with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC)—such as visits and walking along designated paths—the process will be straightforward. However, for field work activities, such as sample collections or going off-path, additional approvals and considerations will be required.

Please read through the pre-application guidance and information document for the relevant site before submitting the expression of interst form or the site access request form. 

Drumbrae site information

Pre-application guidance

What to know more?

If your research group, department, or institute would like to learn more, please contact the Academic Manager. A presentation or discussion can be arranged, depending on timing and available resources.