In an exhibition that starts thousands of years ago and runs up to the present day, Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) looks at how Dales peatlands formed, the wildlife that lives there, how our actions have affected our peatlands, and what we are doing to restore them. Give Peat a Chance will explore these beautiful, brooding landscapes through visual arts, music and film, thanks to generous funding from Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund and Pennine PeatLIFE.

Central to the exhibition is a “bog in a box”: a blanket bog recreated in a Perspex tank that will let people see how healthy peatland should look. The beauty of blanket bog is revealed by getting on eye-level with the myriad plants that inhabit these miniature and intricate spaces. The tank will be combined with a series of interpretation panels to give visitors a deeper understanding of Dales peatlands. We look at how they formed, what has happened to them, why they are culturally and environmentally important, how we are restoring them and why it is important that we do so.

There will be original artwork reflecting local artists' responses to these vast and beautiful landscapes, with art from Hester Cox, Bev Parker, Andrea Hunter and Ann Rutherford. Ann's work is a collaboration with Dales cellist, Sarah Smout, combining art with music and poetry. You'll also be able to see the film YPP made on Fleet Moss with Sarah for her stunning song "Atlas".

YPP has been working with local filmmakers, Ian Kendall and Gary Lawson, to make a film explaining the value of our peatlands and how we are restoring them. You can see that, together with Jenny Sharman's film about the work of the Pennine PeatLIFE project in the Dales. A series of audio recordings from people who work on peatlands give an insight into what it’s like to earn a living in these spectacular habitats. These recordings will be complemented by the work of local poets.

If you want to get  more involved in exploring the exhibition’s themes, Sarah Smout will be running four writing workshops – two for families and two for adults – exploring participants’ reactions to peatlands. The writing from these workshops will go on to become part of the exhibition.

Give Peat a Chance will run from 16 July until 9 October at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes. Some of the content will then move to the Museum of North Craven Life where it can be seen from 15 October until 23 December.

UPDATE: Give Peat a Chance is now open at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley.