Index Home Join IPCC

PRESS RELEASE 17th January 2007

At the beginning of the 1980's there was very little talk of the
conservation of peatlands in Ireland. However in 1982 this was all to
change. Following a debate on the future of Irish Bogs in University College
Dublin the Irish Peatland Conservation Council was established. This year
the Irish Peatland Conservation Council celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Looking back over the past 25 years the Irish Peatland Conservation has seen
many important developments in Irish peatlands - 250,000 hectares of Irish
peatlands have been conserved for future generations to enjoy. The Irish
Peatland Conservation Council has been successful in numerous planning
application objections for peatlands around Ireland, They have published
numerous education resources including Bogs in the Classroom and A day on
the Bog Field Study Guide. Through their composting and wildlife gardening
courses they have encouraged thousands of people to start composting their
green waste instead of using peat in the garden. The Irish Peatland
Conservation Council has also produced five Conservation plans that list all
peatlands of conservation worthiness in Ireland. In 2003 they established
the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, where they are currently
developing a centre of excellence in peatland education, conservation and
research.

Throughout the past 25 years staff, committee members, volunteers and
supporters have all helped in the battle to save the bogs of Ireland. This
year we ask that you now all join us to help celebrate. You will find a
copy of our 2007 event guide below or check out our website - www.ipcc.ie.
Make this the year you decide to take part in one or more events to help
save the bogs.

Be Part of the Action

Boggy events at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Co. Kildare and
other venues throughout the country. Booking onto an event is essential.
Please telephone 045-860133.

JANUARY 2007
Monday 1st - Get off to a wild new year by purchasing IPCC's Wild Ireland
Calendar. Page to view each month and space to put in appointments and
events. Purchase your copy from the Nature Shop on line at www.ipcc.ie

10-12th January Young Scientist's Exhibition Visit the IPCC's Go Wild with
Nature Exhibition Stand at the Young Scientist's Exhibition 2007. The event
is on in the RDS Dublin daily from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th January.
See insect eating plants, dip for mini-beasts in our bog pond and learn how
to make a craft using bog plants. All welcome.

Kingship and Sacrifice Exhibition Looking for an indoor boggy treat. Why not
visit the bog bodies exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland this
month. This permanent exhibition is open every day Tuesday-Saturday 10am to
5pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm at Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

FEBRUARY 2007
Friday 2nd February - WORLD WETLANDS DAY. Why not celebrate by exploring
your local wetland for adult frogs or frog spawn. Load up with our fun
recording cards available from Hop To It! - Irish Frog Survey at
www.ipcc.ie. All records welcome. Visit the Frogs Exhibition at the Bog of
Allen Nature Centre.

Tuesday 6th February for 6 weeks. Wet Wonderful and Wild Bogs and Fens
evening course at the Botany Department, University College Dublin. The
course includes 6 two hour workshops on the heritage, wildlife and
conservation of bogs. Hands on classes and slide shows are a feature of each
session. The course will also include a field trip on Saturday 10th March to
three peatland sites in the Bog of Allen. Bookings through the Adult
Education Centre, UCD on tel 01-7167123. Please quote HN207. Fee Euro 190.
Wednesday 14th - Love is in the Air for our birds. Celebrate by purchasing a
Bird Nesting Box from the Nature Shop at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. If
you want to attract birds to nest in your garden you should have your bird
box up by today. Buy one for Euro 15.50 in the shop, also available by mail
order or the Nature Shop Nature Shop On-line at www.ipcc.ie

MARCH 2007
12-16th March Buy Irish Festival in the Nature Shop at the Bog of Allen
Nature Centre. Get your turf burning cottages, lucky black bog cats,
Brigid's Crosses, Scoib baskets, Ireland jigsaws and postcard and stamp sets
during this week long celebration. All proceeds to the Save the Bogs
Campaign. (Shop closed on St Patrick's Day) Available from the Nature Shop
Nature Shop On-line at www.ipcc.ie

APRIL 2007
Monday 2nd April - Bog of Allen Nature Centre re-opens for school visits and
special interest groups. Brochure of programmes available from this link
School and Special Interest Group Visits to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
or by post (tel 045-860133). Direct link to Bog of Allen Nature Centre from
home page at www.ipcc.ie

Easter Frogs Day Thursday 5th April. Easter Fun Day at the Bog of Allen
Nature Centre for children aged between 7 and 13 years. Activities
supervised by experienced tutors to include: * Pond Dipping, * Frog Search
and * Froggy Crafts 10am 1pm. Bring a snack pack, rain coat and outdoor
shoes. Places limited.Cost: Euro 15 Contact: IPCC @ 045-860133 Irish
Peatland Conservation Council, Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore,
Rathangan, Co. Kildare.

MAY 2007
Sunday 27th - Wildlife Gardening and Composting Open Day at the Bog of Allen
Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare 12 noon to 4pm. Events will
include Illustrated slide show on Wildlife Gardening, Guided tours of the
Gardens at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Composting Workshop, Sale of
Plants and Wildlife Gardening Books and composting cones in the Nature Shop.
Funds raised go towards the Save the Bogs Campaign. Contact IPCC at
045-860133. Volunteers and donations of goods welcome. Families and friends
welcome. Bring picnics. Admission Euro 2, children free.

JUNE 2007
Monday 18th - Visit the Art Gallery at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and be
inspired by the bog work of Irish artists. All proceeds to the Save the Bogs
Campaign. View a selection of art on line at Save the Bogs Gallery
www.ipcc.ie

JULY 2007
Sunday 29th - INTERNATIONAL BOG DAY. Join us at the Bog of Allen Nature
Centre from 2-5pm to celebrate this world wide event. IPCC celebrates our
25th anniversary. Events programme to be announced. Adults and children
welcome. Free Admission. Bring picnic.

AUGUST 2007
Mon 30th July to Fri 3rd August - Go Wild with Nature Summer Camp at the Bog
of Allen Nature Centre for children aged between 7 and 13 years. Activities
supervised by experienced tutors to include:* Nature Crafts: Dream Catchers,
Bridget Cross, Harvest Knots* Wonders of Nature Earthwalk: smell, look,
feel, paint and dream* Woodland Creepy Crawlie Quest and Nature Diary*
Flytraps House: insect eating plants* Pond Dipping and Froggy Crafts* Bog
Trip & Last Day Party Mon-Fri: 10am 1pm. Bring a snack pack, rain coat and
outdoor shoes. Places limited.Cost: Euro 50 10% discount for second and
subsequent siblings. Contact: IPCC @ 045-860133 Irish Peatland Conservation
Council Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare.

Monday 13th - Holiday fun in the Nature Shop. Special promotion of bug
boxes, wildlife identification charts, activity cards and bird callers.
Catalogue available on website or by post (tel 045-860133). Available from
the Nature Shop Nature Shop On-line at www.ipcc.ie

25th August to 2nd September HERITAGE WEEK - Volunteer Days at Lullymore
West Bog, Co. Kildare. Work with us to remove tree seedlings from the bog so
as to preserve the habitat of the endangered marsh fritillary butterfly.
Butterfly walk included. Bring wellies and packed lunch. Full training will
be given. Booking is essential with Nuala Madigan at tel. 045-860133.

SEPTEMBER 2007
Monday 3rd - LAUNCH OF IPCC CHRISTMAS COLLECTION. Beat the rush and order
your Christmas cards and calendars now from the Nature Shop. Catalogue
available On-line at www.ipcc.ie
Also available directly from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.

OCTOBER 2007
Monday 1st - Friday 5th - COMPOSTING WEEK - Join IPCC at the Bog of Allen
Nature Centre for our composting bonanza. Contact Nuala Madigan on tel.
045-860133 if you would like to join in. If you would like to learn more
about composting why not follow this link Composting & Wildlife Gardening at
www.ipcc.ie

Creepie Crawlie Trick or Treat Tuesday 30th October. Halloween Day at the
Bog of Allen Nature Centre for children aged between 7 and 13 years.
Activities supervised by experienced tutors to include: * Creepie Crawlie
Quest, * Story Telling and * Batty Crafts10am 1pm. Bring a snack pack, rain
coat and outdoor shoes. Places limited. Cost: Euro 15 Contact: IPCC @
045-860133 Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Bog of Allen Nature Centre,
Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare.

NOVEMBER 2007
Sunday 25th - Christmas Open Day at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre,
Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare 12 noon to 4pm. The Nature Shop at the
centre will be selling cards and calendars and gifts. Events will include
guided tours of the gardens and habitats at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
and the Peatlands Museum Workshop on how to make Christmas Cardsand Yule
Logs from recycled materials. Funds raised go towards the Save the Bogs
Campaign. Contact IPCC at 045-860133. Volunteers welcome. Admission Euro 2.

For further information please contact:
Irish Peatland Conservation Council
Bog of Allen Nature Centre
Lullymore
Rathangan
Co. Kildare
Ireland
Tel 045-860133
Fax: 045-860481

www.ipcc.ie

bogs@ipcc.ie

Action for Bogs & Wildlife

ENDS