Girley Bog, Co. Meath. Discover the Past, Build the Future

On Sunday 30^th August  between 2-5pm the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) invite you to celebrate Heritage Week with us on our raised bog nature reserve, Girley Bog NHA, Co. Meath.

IPCC’s purchase of 8.6 hectares of Girley Bog in June of 2013 completed the jigsaw of conservation for the site and IPCC recently completed their first program of work on restoring this area to peat forming conditions. “We have just completed our systematic drain blocking on site where we have installed over 70 dams across 1.5km of raised bog habitat” says Tadhg Ó Corcora, Conservation Officer with IPCC. “Additionally only last week we completed our 3rd Sphagnum restoration plot on the site where we are trying to grow Sphagnum moss, the key bog builder on an area of bare peat cutover” he continued. The work is already having an effect with watertables rising on the bog giving typical bog species a greater chance to survive and thrive.

There is plenty to see on the site and the IPCC staff will ensure you see it all as they lead you on a guided walk from Causey Farm just a short hop from Fordstown on the R164 (meeting at 2pm sharp).  Walking Girley Bog you will encounter various habitats such as woodland, orchid rich meadows and bogland and as you make your way around to the IPCC section of the bog where you will be led from the Sphagnum restoration sites of the cutover up onto the high bog to get a close up view of drain blocking in action. The bog recently featured on RTE’s The Zoo and was chosen as a location to highlight the restoration work on the bog but also the abundance of frogs on site. Present too are a large number of birds and the flocks of ravens overhead will keep you looking up throughout your visit.

The day will give you the opportunity to see peatland conservation in action and is a chance to get detailed information on site from IPCC staff who are directly involved with the conservation of the site. There will also be a chance to have your say on the future management of the site, as the IPCC are currently looking for any suggestions on what you feel should be included in a Management Plan for the site.

There will be a number of activities for children to keep them entertained during the walk including pond dipping for freshwater invertebrates in some of our newly created bog pools.  Participants are encouraged to wear strong footwear and clothes suitable for the weather conditions on the day and weather permitting there will be tea and biscuits on the bog for all to enjoy.