Sphagnum Pioneers / Messing with Mosses

Name: Sphagnum Pioneers / Messing with Mosses
Start: 2026-03-21T13:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-21T16:30:00+00:00
Location: Leeds Art Gallery

Leeds Art Gallery

Sat 21 Mar 13:00 - 16:30

Leeds Art Gallery

Book now

Sat 21 Mar

13:00 - 16:30

Book now

Join Yorkshire Peat Partnership and artist Rose Ferraby for an afternoon celebrating mosses, bogs and all things peaty.

Sphagnum Pioneers: A talk with Beth Thomas and Dr Rose Ferraby

13:00-14:00, Henry Moore Lecture Theatre

Join artist and archaeologist Dr Rose Ferraby and Yorkshire Peat Partnership's Beth Thomas in conversation about this superhero plant species. Across Yorkshire, a tiny moss is making a big impact on our upland landscapes. The discovery and recovery of these remarkable sphagnum mosses is unfurling ecological and human stories. They give us a unique view into our past landscapes whilst helping ready us for environmental change.

Messing with Mosses: A workshop with Dr Rose Ferraby

14:15-16:30

A collage workshop taking inspiration from one of our most ancient plant species with artist and archaeologist Rose Ferraby.

In this collage workshops, we will be creating images that explore and narrate the world of sphagnum mosses. These tiny plants create our peatlands, and here in Yorkshire work is underway to discover and recover some of the lost species of sphagnums. We will be creating collages that draw together different aspects of these plants, experimenting with integrating archival text and images.

No experience necessary. All materials provided.
Workshop spaces are limited, please book by emailing art.gallery@leeds.gov.uk.

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About Rose Ferraby

Dr Rose Ferraby is an archaeologist and artist based in North Yorkshire. Her work often explores the relationship between people and landscape through time. Rose’s work is trans-disciplinary, drawing on research and practice in archaeology, geology, ecology and nature recovery, and art. She uses these skills together to carry out a range of ongoing research projects and commissions. These include work with Knepp Wilding, Hepple Wilding, the National Trust

About Yorkshire Peat Partnership

Yorkshire Peat Partnership is restoring peatlands in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks and Nidderdale National Landscape. Our goal is to restore and conserve upland peat resources in order to ensure the long-term future of these unique and valuable habitats. Our operational area contains 92,946 ha hectares of blanket bog, of which the majority is damaged. 27% of England’s blanket bog is in North Yorkshire, making this a landscape deserving of protection.