Fenor Bog Nature Trail Guide, Co. Waterford

Fenor Bog is just 16ha in size and was purchased in 1999 by a local action group - Móin Fhionnúrach Development Association in partnership with the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Locals cut the turf out of Fenor Bog up until the 1910. Then it was left undisturbed for many years and has regenerated into a alkaline fen peatland. It is a National Nature Reserve (No. 1697). Fenor bog contains a storehouse of natural variety - wet woodland dominated by willow and alder, undulating greater tussock sedge vegetation and flat wet wild flower areas. Over 300 species of plant, bird, insect, and animal have been recorded on the site.

Arriving at Fenor Bog, there is a welcome sign just beside a lake. The 500m long boardwalk begins behind the sign and picnic area and is also directly accessible from the church car park. Take in your surroundings. Looking east, across the bog you see Ballyscanlon Hill which rises to an elevation of 148m and a conifer plantation to the right of it. The cross on top of the hill was erected in the Roman Catholic Holy Year of 1950 by local people. To the north you can see a raised area of farmland, to the west more farmland and to the south the road lies behind the lake on the bog and the church. Tall cedar trees surrounding the church are home to a rookery and sound of crows fills the air throughout the day. If you are visiting at midday you will also hear the church bells chime.

Looking out over the wet flower area on Fenor bog you will see Ballyscanlon Hill with a conifer
plantation to its right. On a clear day look to the top of the hill to see a cross erected in 1950 to mark the Holy Year.

The boardwalk is made from recycled plastic lumbar which was imported from The Netherlands. It took the local community two and a half years to build. It winds through the different habitats on the bog and ends at a bridge over a deep ditch which leaves the bog to the west side. Stop and watch at the lake for a while. On warm still summer days this is the place to see dragonflies and
damselflies such as the Emperor Dragonfly, the Brown Winged Hawker Dragonfly or the Large Red Damselfly. They may be laying eggs in the water or hunting for insects. Turning northward with the lake behind, you will see the large clumps of Carex paniculata or tussock sedge lining the sides of the boardwalk. These clumps stand up to 1.5m tall. Carefully run your finger along the long thin leaves to feel their jagged edges.

Both the dragonfly and damselfly can spend up to two years developing under water as nymphs before emerging as adults. On calm sunny days you will see the dragonfly and the damselfly hunting for insects over the pond at the entrance to the bog.

Moving past the tussock sedge, the bog opens up before you and you will see a variety of wild flowers that make up the wet fen meadow habitat. The ground here sinks and moves when you walk on it and up to 25cm of water slowly surrounds your feet. The boardwalk protects visitors from sinking in the wetness. In summer Lady's smock attracts many orange tip and green-veined white butterflies. You may be lucky and see newts or lizards. Marsh orchid, water horsetail, St John's wort, king cup, devil's bit scabious, meadow sweet, mint, royal fern, marsh cinquefoil, bog cotton, bog bean, ragged robin and fen mosses are just some of the plants that are found here. In summer the umbel flowers of angelica will be covered with insects enjoying their nectar. Depending on the season you visit you may be sure to be amazed at the colours dominating Fenor's wet meadows: yellows, pinks, whites and blues. Look out here for tadpoles in the floods in late February and animal tracks throughout the bog.

As you walk along the boardwalk use the images in this guide to identify many of the plants growing on Fenor bog. Stop and listen for birds singing and see how many different butterflies flutter past you.

The boardwalk cuts through some of the willow scrub woodlands on the fen. You may hear the noisy chattering of the reed buntings when they return to the bog in May or perhaps the yellow catkins on the willows may grab your attention.

You will see that some parts of the bog are dominated by the tall straight stems and cigar like heads of bull rush. These plants survive the wet conditions in the fen by having air filled roots and stems. They are natural snorklers!

Turning westward now the boardwalk enters a woodland with lots of gorse. The smell of the gorse flowers is intense and on a still day you can hear gorse fruits popping open to release their seeds. This is a good sheltered spot in which to see speckled wood butterflies and violets.

On the bridge take a moment to look into the water below to see sticklebacks. Leaving the boardwalk you move onto mineral soil. Birch, mountain ash and gorse all grow along the edges of the path. In autumn there are plenty of blackberries here. Basking butterflies such as the small copper may be seen on the ground. Look up to see the swallows chasing flies across the bog in summer. The path rejoins the boardwalk at the car park.

Whenever you visit, keep your eyes and ears open as each moment that passes on Fenor Bog will be a filled with wildlife for you to enjoy in this peaceful haven.

Other Fauna to look out for on Fenor bog include fox, pygmy shrew, reed bunting, bats, newts, lizard, otter and various butterflies and other birds.

Sensory activities on Fenor Bog
As you walk along the boardwalk on Fenor bog use your senses to ensure you don't miss anything:

* Look for the Cross on the top of Ballyscanlon Hill erected in the Holy Year of 1950
* Listen for the crows in the Cedar trees surrounding the church
* Carefully feel the jagged edges of Carex paniculata, the tussock sedge
* Look at the variety of colours in the wet meadow area
* In the woodland area listen and hear the gorse fruits popping their seeds on calm days.
* Watch for dragonflies resting on the bridge or laying eggs in the pond
* Listen to the tinkling of the water in the drain under the bridge
* All over the bog listen for buzzing bees
* On the path look for butterflies basking on the ground on sunny days
* Look in the air for swallows in May
* Taste the blackberries growing along the ditch
* Smell the gorse flowers

How to find Fenor Bog
Fenor bog is part of the Copper Coast heritage trail on the Southern Coast of Co. Waterford. The site occurs in the village of Fenor which is 6km from Tramore and 16km from Waterford city. It can be reached by following the R675 coast road from Tramore to Dungarven. On reaching the village of Fenor, the entrance to the bog is beside the Church car park which is
located on the third class road leading to Ballyscanlon Lake.

For a Safe Visit to Fenor Bog

* When visiting Fenor bog, stay on the Boardwalk.

* Always let a friend or relative know where you are going

* Motorised vehicles and bicycles are not allowed onto the Boardwalk

Irish Peatland Conservation Council Registered Charity Number CHY6829