Rachel Orchard

My PhD research is interested in understanding the relationships between people and place involved in woodland creation and peatland restoration projects. I’m investigating both how the University’s Forest and Peatland Programme and its partnerships were established and the ongoing practices of carrying out woodland creation and peatland restoration on the ground. This research focuses on gathering the perspectives on the woodland and peatland projects from the working community, including landowners, in-house staff, consultants, contractors and volunteers. Through ‘go-along’ interviews where I work or walk alongside participants at four case study sites, the research contributes to the conversation around landownership and natural capital in Scotland by centring the people who carry out the work and the social relationships that underpin changes to the landscape.