Flytraps House

Bryan Pinchen, voluntary Conservation Officer with the Carnivorous Plant Society (CPS) describes how the flytraps house was created at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.

When IPCC asked if the Carnivorous Plant Society (CPS) could make a contribution towards the creation of the 'flytraps' house, I jumped at the opportunity to visit Ireland and help out. An appeal to Society members for donations of plants for the project was successful, and plans were made for me to help design and create "Flytraps", the carnivorous plant garden.

In September I left England on a journey that would result in the creation of possibly the largest permanent display of carnivorous plants in Britain and Ireland. I began with a visit to the Sarracenia Nurseries in London, where 100 Sarracenia pitcher plants were donated. From here I travelled to Oxfordshire to collect another 150+ plants of all carnivorous genera, donated by members of the CPS. A ferry from Holyhead and a short drive brought me to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre in Lullymore.

When I arrived, concrete paths had already been laid and 150 panes of glass replaced in the greenhouse. The planting beds needed preparation.

With the help of IPCC staff and volunteers, rubble and building material was removed, and the planting beds excavated to a depth of 18". Carnivorous plants only grow in saturated soils with no nutrients, so it was important that both these requirements were provided. To create an indoor bog, the beds were lined with thick plastic, before being infilled with a mixture of specially formulated peat-free compost donated by FLORALIVE. A pond feature was dug in one of the beds to provide a home for aquatic carnivorous plants and to display native Irish pond species. Behind the pond a striking feature, using 7,000 year old bog oak was created, adding height and focus to the bed. The plants are laid out in groups according to their genera, which will both aid their use for teaching, and show them off in natural stands of height, structure and colour. By the end of day five, one side of the greenhouse had been planted as a mini 'bog' habitat, with over 25 species of carnivorous plant.

Venus fly traps and butterworts sit and wait inside the entrance, before giving way to a drift of glistening sundews. These make way for a diverse array of pitcher plants of many shapes, sizes and colours. Amongst these passive killers grow bog species like bog cotton, blueberry and heathers, with willows providing a climbing frame for scrambling tropical pitchers from Borneo.

On days six and seven, the remainder of the greenhouse was planted, this time informally, with a mixture of interesting pitcher plant hybrids. Delicate sundews were planted on the pondside, butterworts planted into hollows in the bog oak, and fern-like bladderworts placed in the pond. Staging was placed for use as a teaching platform, and potted up plants of each carnivorous genera were located here. As part of the contribution from the CPS fifty packets of seed of various carnivorous plants were planted, and the resulting seedlings from these should be ready to transplant into the main display in two years time.

We have created both a stunning carnivorous plant display and a unique and valuable teaching aid. With various insects visiting the greenhouse during planting, these most unusual and attractive carnivores should have no difficulty flourishing in their new home.

Bryan Pinchen, Conservation Officer, Carnivorous Plant Society

Acknowledgements
Bryan Pinchen and IPCC thank
* Carnivorous Plant Society members for plant and seed donations
* Sarracenia Nurseries, London for plant donations
* Amsterdam Zoo for plant donations
* National Botanic Gardens, Dublin for soil and plant donations
* IPCC staff and volunteers for their help
* Bryan Pinchen for his expertise and help
* UK Carnivorous Plant Forum for financial support
* FLORALIVE for donating Thrive compost
* The Curley Family, Prosperous for bog oak wood
* Schools who raised funds for the project: Delgany NS, Wicklow; St. Mary's GNS, Edenderry; Scoil an Linbh Íosa, Prosperous; St. Anne's - Loreto Primary School, Navan; Mount Anville Secondary School, Dublin; St. Patrick's NS, Delvin; and St. Brigid's School, Glasnevin, Dublin.

You can make your donation or check out the list of items and skills we are looking for towards the purchase and restoration of the centre - by going here

Supporters and Sponsors

Pictures of the Volunteers and the Project Centre

Irish Peatland Conservation Council Registered Charity Number CHY6829