At Holker Estate Farm, we are committed to protecting our carbon-rich peat soils while identifying commercially sustainable farming systems for the future. This has led us to explore paludiculture — the cultivation of crops on rewetted peatland — as a potential long-term land use strategy. 

Our farm, sometimes referred to locally as “little Holland” due to its low-lying, peat-dominant landscape, presents both challenge and opportunity. As one of twelve national recipients of the Natural England Paludiculture Exploration Fund (PEF), we have undertaken a detailed and evidence-led assessment of which wetland-compatible crops may be suitable for our soils and climate. 

Working with the Savills rural research team, we began with a global dataset of 123 potential paludicultural crops. This initial list drew upon international research, including the Database of Potential Paludicultural Plants (DPPP) developed by the University of Greifswald in Germany. 

However, many species identified globally are suited to climatic and soil conditions very different from those of North West England. We therefore focused our analysis on crops with demonstrated performance in comparable regions such as the Netherlands, Germany and Canada, alongside species that occur naturally within UK wetlands. 

Through successive stages of assessment, the long list was reduced first to six leading candidates and ultimately to three principal crop options. 

Site Conditions and Water Management 

Paludiculture crops differ significantly in their hydrological and soil requirements. 

Certain species tolerate prolonged inundation, while others require a raised but controlled water table with aerated root systems. There is also an important distinction between bog systems — rain-fed, acidic and nutrient-poor — and fen systems — groundwater-fed, more alkaline and nutrient-rich. 

Although management interventions can modify conditions to some degree, site suitability remains fundamental. Each peatland site must be evaluated on its own characteristics. 

A Structured Evaluation Framework 

Financial modelling alone is insufficient when assessing emerging crops. Market development, agronomic maturity, infrastructure requirements and environmental risk are equally significant. 

To ensure a robust and transparent process, we evaluated each crop against 13 defined metrics. These included demand drivers beyond carbon benefit, market entry barriers, displacement risk, price sensitivity, environmental considerations, agronomic development, machinery requirements, processing and transport constraints, and the availability of market or development partners. 

This framework enabled direct comparison across diverse crop types and helped identify those most aligned with both our environmental objectives and commercial realities. 

Progress and Next Steps 

The full Savills report sets out the six leading crop candidates and detailed scoring matrix. The final three options reflect the strongest combination of environmental compatibility, agronomic feasibility and market potential under current conditions. 

Paludiculture remains an evolving field. It requires careful site planning, water management infrastructure, technical expertise and collaborative market development. However, this work demonstrates that rewetting peatland need not mean withdrawing from productive land use. With appropriate crop selection and strategic partnerships, it may offer a credible pathway towards lower-emission farming while sustaining rural enterprise. 

With Natural England’s support, the scientific and commercial foundations for informed crop selection are now being established at Holker.