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Sheheree Bog Nature Reserve, Co. Kerry

• County: Kerry
• Area: 8 ha
• Bogland Type: Kettle hole bog
• Natural Heritage Area Number: 382
• Year Purchased by IPCC: Management Agreement between landowners and Duchas
• Year Declared National Nature Reserve: 1990
• National Grid Reference: V 983 884
• How to get there: Sheheree Bog lies 3 km south-east of Killarney in a depression within a high ridge (103 m). Take the N71 from Killarney to Muckross House, and take the first turn left after the Flesk River. The bog is located 1.2 km up this third class road.

  The IPCC can accept no liability for injury to persons visiting the site.

Further Information on Reserve

Sheheree Bog in Kerry was a site IPCC tried to purchase in association with the Dutch Foundation of the Conservation of Irish Bogs in the late 1980's. Although unsuccessful in our attempt to purchase our interest persuaded local land owners to conserve the site via a management agreement with Duchas.

The bog has developed by succession from a small lake to a ridge basin bog with similarities to a raised bog.

The vegetation is dominated by Heather (Calluna vulgaris) up to 0.5m high with frequent Autumn Gorse (Ulex gallii) and Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale) while Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), Bog Cottons (Eriophorum spp.) and Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) are also found, and to a lesser extent Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), Deergrass (Scirpus cespitosus) and Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). A range of Sphagnum species are found, forming thick, cushiony carpets in places, while occasional hummocks of the moss Leucobryum glaucum also occur.

A concentration of Downey Birch (Betula pubescens) and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees grow towards the north-east of the site beneath which abundant Sphagnum grows. The open bog adjacent to this is quite wet and Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) grows abundantly here.

Surrounding the bog is a wet lagg area. Here more base-demanding species occur, such as Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Marsh Cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris), Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris), Water Horsetail (Equistum fluviatile), Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris), Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), Bulrush (Typha latifolia), Bulbous Rush (Juncus bulbosus), Bottle Sedge (Carex rostrata) and Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis). To the north and north-west, the lagg is vegetated by a wet woodland of Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and Willow (Salix sp.) with some Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Hazel (Corylus avellana), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in the drier outer margins. The site also includes dry grassland fields which slope down to, and adjoin, the bog.

The Rare and legally protected Slender Cottongrass (Eriophorum gracile) occurs at this site, while a rare invertebrate has also been noted.

The bog itself is not substantially used, owing to its wetness and the wetness of the surrounding lagg. The abundance of Cladonia lichen in places may be a result of burning in previous years. Adjoining fields are grazed by cattle and sheep and fertilised to varying degrees. Landuse practices here could impact on the bog habitat.

Sheheree Bog is a statutory Nature Reserve and is internationally important as a substantially intact example of a bog type uncommon in the region. The site hosts the Rare Slender Cottongrass while the abundance of Cranberry in places is exceptional. Additionally the presence of Alder and Downey Birch woodland and a well-developed lagg are of interest.

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