Carmarthenshire Peat Bogs

Lying between Brechfa and Llanfynydd are five lowland bogs that, although not very large are nevertheless significant for their history and their habitat. With the help of heritage lottery funding, a project is underway to conserve them for all to enjoy and this week we discover how Carmarthenshire's peat bogs hold secrets to our past, present and future well being. At Pyllau Cochion bog ecologist Isabel Macho explains how these wetlands accumulate peat, formed over thousands of years from decaying plant matter. They're our carbon sinks trapping carbon within them and have a crucial role to play in mitigating climate change. Dr Siwan Davies from Swansea University shows Rachael Garside how they can take a peat core to unlock the hidden history of the development of the bog. At Mynydd Bach Dyfed Archaeological Trust have been taking school children and locals to explore a group of Bronze Age round barrows and discover more about the prehistoric landscape and the people who lived there.

Finally though, the call is for our listeners to help - at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales we hear how easy it is to garden, peat free.