Anna Aitken
BSc
BSc
Anna is a Research Assistant working on an NCF project aimed at providing evidence for setting buffer distances for woodland creation and future use of existing wooded peatland in England, and is undertaking a Masters by Research titled “Hydrological connectivity in peatlands: the impact of planted woodlands on adjacent peatlands” supervised by the University of Leeds.
Anna joined Forest Research in 2023. She studied with the Open University for a BSc in Natural Sciences (Environmental Science) and graduated with a first in 2022. Her undergraduate thesis modelling the impact of changing land use in the Scottish Borders on the habitat for Northern Brown Argus butterflies led to her undertaking an internship with Butterfly Conservation and funded by PTES, surveying rare micro-moths in remote parts of Scotland in the spring and summer of 2023, while completing a PGCert in Biological Recording at Manchester Metropolitan University.
School of Geography, University of Leeds
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian
EH25 9SY
Understanding the interaction between peatland and woodland is important when making decisions to support delivery of the English Trees Action Plan (ETAP) and England Peat Action Plan (EPAP). This project will fill gaps in the evidence base – specifically in relation to the hydrological connection between the two.