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Kildare Peatland SAC Being Destroyed

For release 4 April 2001

A large bog in county Kildare that has survived for thousands of years as a
natural wilderness area is being damaged and will be destroyed in the near
future unless Kildare County Council take action against a peat developer.

Mouds Bog is the largest area of uncut raised bog remaining in County
Kildare, it is located just a couple of miles from Newbridge. The site is a
haven for rare plants and animals in a countryside that is becoming
increasingly urbanised. The scientific importance of the site was first
recognised in 1981 when it was listed as an Area of Scientific Interest
(ASI). The bog was upgraded to a Natural Heritage Area by Dúchas in 1995 and
is about to be designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because of
its international importance as a raised bog habitat.

Sixty hectares of the bog is being industrially mined despite the fact that
planning permission has never been granted for this scheme. Peat is being
removed by the Northern Irish based Bulrush Peat Company. Once removed the
peat is sold as horticultural moss peat on the Irish and UK markets. This
occurs despite Bulrush claiming to have a 'policy' of not extracting or
purchasing peat from ASI's.

Kildare County Council are obliged to ensure that this development be
subject to Irish Planning regulations. The Irish Peatland Conservation
Council (IPCC) alerted Kildare County Council to the unauthorised activity
in 1998 but since then the Council have not insisted on the developer
submitting a planning application or an Environmental Impact Statement for
the 60 hectare project.

A spokesman for the IPCC Mr Patrick Crushell said 'It is as if the
authorities are willing to turn a blind eye to developers who knowingly
destroy our natural heritage. The Council must realise that the long term
irreversible loss of the bog for County Kildare is far greater than the
short term economic gain for a few individuals'.

IPCC hope that Kildare County Council will take action against the developer
for not complying with planning regulations in the past. The operations
should now cease on the site until such time that an Environmental Impact
Statement is prepared and planning permission granted. Mr Crushell added
that 'The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should refuse to issue a
pollution control licence until such time that the developer complies with
planning regulations'.

IPCC urge gardeners to support peatland conservation by only purchasing and
using peat free composts, a list of which can be got from IPCC on request.

ends
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Irish Peatland Conservation Council
119 Capel Street
Dublin 1
Ireland

Tel: +353-1-8722384
Fax: +353-1-8722397

e-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie
web: http://www.ipcc.ie

IPCC - Action for Bogs & Wildlife - Ag caomhnu na bportach