Press Release
Celebrating the Unique & Diverse Biodiversity of Peatlands on National Biodiversity Week 2021
14.5.21
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council in partnership with the Irish Environmental Network are delighted to celebrate National Biodiversity Week 2021 with you – virtually. Irish Peatlands are home to a diverse range of plants and animals many of which are unique to these wet wonderlands. Insect eating Sundews that have a special glue to trap insects, Bog Asphodels that form a partnership with a Rhizobium bacteria, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and water storing Sphagnum mosses are just examples of some of the biodiversity found on peatlands. The charity (CHY6829, RCN20013547) have scheduled a range of free events throughout the week and we encourage you to join the celebrations with us.
A healthy peatland has a water table within 20cm of the surface. Dragonflies are important indicator species of both freshwater and terrestrial habitats. The Black Darter dragonfly is found on peatlands and in acidic freshwater habitats where its presence alone represents the quality of the natural environment. To raise the profile of our winged peatland friends the Irish Peatland Conservation Council are encouraging young friends of the bog to get crafty by making their own dragonfly. A social media video will be available from the 15th May on the Facebook account of the charity https://www.facebook.com/IPCC.ie/?ref=hl and a PDF is available in our Discover and Learn section of this website providing instructions.
To get you exploring bogs from the 17th May take part in the peatland habitat and biodiversity crossword for your chance to win one of two Friend of the Bog memberships. You can join the crossword by visiting Biodiversity Week Crossword 2021. In 2021 the first record of the Comma butterfly was identified during the National Butterfly Monitoring Scheme on Lullymore West Bog. Join the Irish Peatland Conservation on Wednesday 19th at 1pm for an online talk as we share with you some skills to get you started identifying butterflies in your community. On Friday 21st May again at 1pm the Irish Peatland Conservation Council will be hosting an online talk encouraging you to choose peat free through home composting. You will learn some of the top tips to get you started composting in your garden, the different types of compost systems available to you and frequently asked questions. Register through Eventbrite for the butterfly talk at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/154727154083 and the compost talk at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/154760379461
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council are delighted to be taking part in Backyard BioBlitz 2021 co-ordinated by the Irish Environmental Network. Joined by wildlife experts from the Native Woodland Trust and Irish Wildlife Trust we will be online between the weekend of 21st-23rd May helping you identify the variety of wildlife you find in your gardens. Get involved by simply tagging your photos on Twitter @Irishenvnet or Instagram @national.biodiversity.week using the hashtag #BackyardBioblitz.
There is something for everyone planned this National Biodiversity Week and we encourage you to get involved.
