Paludiculture could help horticulture
Wetland agriculture, or paludiculture, which involves cultivating wetland or moistureloving crop species, has been given a boost with funding to develop existing technology and explore new techniques.
By adopting paludiculture, farmers struggling to keep areas of peatland drained could solve problems they already face. Growing systems involve anything from coppiced tree crops, such as willow or alder, to rushes, reeds, grasses and sphagnum moss, which could be used to generate raw materials needed for growing media and potting composts. Edible crops such as watercress, cranberry and bilberry will help support UK food markets. A trial involving celery has already been staged in East Anglia.