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Eventful year Saving the Bogs

Press Release 22 December 2003

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council's Save the Bogs Campaign - which has championed the cause of bogland conservation in Ireland for the last 20 years - showed no sign of slowing in 2003. The IPCC ran a series of projects and programmes aimed at raising awareness of bog conservation issues and gave many people the chance to learn about bogs and take action at home to help save these unique wetland habitats.

Spring
IPCC asked members of the public to take part in a national Hop to It Irish Frog survey. Focusing on the common frog the survey aimed to learn more about the biology and distribution of this species in Ireland.

At IPCC's Fenor bog reserve in Waterford, the hydrology of the fen became the subject of a year long research project to ascertain what water fluctuations the site is subject to and whether these are within acceptable limits to ensure the future conservation value of the site. Results of the project will be available in spring 2004. Visitors to the open day on the reserve in July were treated to a walk on the completed recycled plastic boardwalk which runs for over 500 m through the fen.

Summer
Gardeners were targeted at the Garden Heaven Show and reminded of the destruction to the wild boglands, caused by each bag of moss peat they spread on the garden. A variety of home composting systems were demonstrated at the show, along with information on the latest suppliers of peat free gardening products available from the better Irish garden centres.

IPCC's educational work with primary and secondary school, teachers continued apace with a number of in service courses being given throughout the country by Catherine O Connell. Contact Catherine on 8722397 to find out about courses planned for 2004.

IPCC's annual Sale of Work and Plant Sale in Christ Church, Rathgar was a great success and raised over 5,500 euro for the Save the Bogs Campaign thanks to the help of the 45 volunteers who manned stands on the day and all those who donated items for the sale. Contact Oscar Duggan on 8722397 if you have unwanted items that could be donated to the 2004 Sale of Work.

Autumn
In late summer IPCC was informed of the imminent sale of the Peatland World centre, owned by Teagasc in Co. Kildare. Following negotiations with Teagasc the property was sold pre-auction to IPCC for 275,000 euro. This centre, on 2 acres of land and with 8,000 square feet of exhibition, office and research space will make a perfect home for IPCC in June 2004 when the organisation transfers there. The generous support of IPCC members and supporters was crucial in securing the future of this centre located in the heart of the Bog of Allen. IPCC are especially grateful to all the volunteer help people have given at the project - and would like to hear from anyone who can give some time in 2004. Contact Mary Mulvey on 045 860133 if you can help.

Results of the Hop to It Irish Frog survey were the best ever with over 1,500 records being sent in to IPCC by members of the pubic. The published report on the survey found that of the 932 ten kilometre squares covering Ireland - frogs have now been reported from 723 squares or 77% of the country. Of the records returned 40% came from garden ponds making these man made habitats one of the most important for the survival of frogs in Ireland. IPCC are still accepting records of frog or spawn sightings from around the country for 2003 or 2004. An exhibition on the Hop to It Irish Frog survey will be launched in ENFO in January 2004.

Winter
Helping people to stop using moss peat in the garden - by making their own compost from home and garden waste - was the main focus of IPCC's All About Compost workshops run during 2003 to coincide with National Composting Week. A further 15 half day courses are planned throughout the country for spring and summer 2004 - contact Caroline Hurley on 8722397 for further details.

Following negotiations with Duchas on the designation of raised and blanket bog sites as part of the SAC (Special Areas of Conservation) and NHA (Natural Heritage Area) network IPCC are pleased that many additional sites have been proposed for designation. Additional raised bogs and fen were put forward during 2003 while a series of new blanket bogs sites are scheduled to be designated as NHA's early in 2004.

This gives just a hint of the varied work carried out by the IPCC in 2003. To learn more about the Peatland Council and its campaigns visit their website at www.ipcc.ie and learn more about issues facing our wetland and bog habitats. Also find out how you can take part in the Save the Bogs Campaign - maybe you can host an exhibition on the wild boglands - or collect used postage stamps to help raise funds - or report on developments that might cause damage to bogs in your locality. Anyone can do their part to Save the Bogs.

ENDS