After introductions, John from the Irish Red Grouse Conservation Trust shared how they protect this sedentary ground bird, resident on peatlands and upland sites. The Red Grouse eat young Ling heather, berries, insects, shoots, buds, leaves, and even grit to aid digestion. Unfortunately, the Red Grouse’s range has declined by 70% across Ireland over the past 40 years, so it has a Red Status on the Irish Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Their sedentary nature increases their vulnerability to rapid habitat changes such as peat extraction, drainage, burning, forestry plantations, and infrastructural developments (e.g. access roads for wind farms). During the event, Pat from the Ballydangan Bog Red Grouse Project explained how they cut heather to stimulate young growth, provide water and grit to help the birds feed, and retain nearby taller stands of heather for them to nest.

Afterwards, two of FarmPEAT’s local project farmers, Alfie and Sean, spoke about their newfound appreciation of their peat soils’ contribution to fighting the climate and biodiversity crises. They shared how they’re coming full circle now with land management—where in the past, they were paid to drain the land and increase productivity, but now, the FarmPEAT Project rewards them for blocking these drains and raising the water table. Alfie and Sean noted that the wider public’s perception of what constitutes a ‘good farm’ needs to shift for farms like these to be recognised as good practice. FarmPEAT’s Project Manager, Caroline, also explained the process for assessing a field’s hydrology before doing any work to avoid unintended impacts on neighbouring land.

We also heard from Liam, Nicola, and Rosemary from the Uí Máine Kingdom Group, which is raising awareness of the karst landscape and local folklore in South Roscommon through art. Liam shared the importance of the landscape for the local area’s water supply and the unique interactions between karst features such as dolines and turloughs. Nicola then explained how they communicate these scientific values through pop-up banners, paintings, and digital animations created with the Celtic Eye Art Group. She noted that they reach a wider audience by linking the stories of the landscape with those of Irish goddesses such as Queen Maeve and St. Brigid.

On a crisp March morning, we were joined at the bog by Bernie, Anna, and Brian from the Clara Heritage Society. Anna started our event with a trip through time in her talk, 'Bogs as Liminal Spaces'. She described bogs as a transitional landscape "at once solid and soft, dry and wet, and highly motile. They are spaces of making and unmaking where water relinquishes to land and land to water." Anna framed bogs as gateways to Irish folklore and human history—referring to the shapeshifting Púca, the spontaneous flickering lights known as will-o'-the-wisps or bog sprites, and the discovery of offerings and bog bodies thought to have been sacrificed by our ancestors to appease the Gods. Past human history was also found in the Mesolithic site uncovered during peat extraction at Boora Bog in 1977, hinting that other early settlements may be present on bogs in the Midlands. Pollen studies show that forest clearance at Clara Bog began around 2300 BC. However, no archaeological studies have been carried out on Clara Bog to preserve its status as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive.

Brian continued the history of Clara Bog by pointing out the Clara-Rahan Road. This was constructed through the bog centre in the late 18th century and the associated drainage and peat subsidence has split the central dome into Clara Bog East and West. Brian explained how in 1983, Bord na Mona purchased a section of Clara Bog for peat production but was met with public protest. After being declared a National Nature Reserve in 1987, the drains were blocked and restoration has been ongoing ever since.

We then enjoyed a walk along the boardwalk to explore peatland plants and microtopography using the new Community Wetlands Forum field guides. The event concluded with two of FarmPEAT's project farmers, Jim and Colman, sharing their experiences of farming on peat soils. They spoke of the need for longer schemes and how results-based payments support nature-friendly farming, particularly on less productive parts of their farms.

After a round of introductions, we made our way to the boardwalk where Eugene Dunbar from ETHOS (Everything Tyrrellspass Has On Show) talked us through a map of Cloncrow Bog. It is a Natural Heritage Area bounded by bog woodland containing beautiful old Scots Pine trees. We also saw bird boxes installed in the woodland area, where an attendee involved with BirdWatch Ireland shared the best practice for installing boxes: 2-4m off the ground and facing between north and south-east away from strong wind and rain. Learn more on www.birdwatchireland.ie.

On the walk through the raised bog, we saw plants such as Bog Asphodel, Hare's-tail Cottongrass, Bog Rosemary, Cross-leaved Heather, Ling Heather, and various mosses and lichens. We discussed how a microtopography with pools and hummocks indicates better bog condition. We also highlighted the borrow pits created when building the peat dams. Eugene displayed a glass jug showing the different layers of peat formation, which we contextualised by measuring peat depth and the water table.

Seán from the Kilbeggan Community Group explained the function of the community employment scheme and how not-for-profit groups can avail of extra hands-on support. He gave examples of locals doing great work with the Tidy Towns and GAA Club. For more information, contact: www.kilbeggancommunitygroup.ie.

Afterwards, our project farmers, Donal, Mary, and Gerald, shared how drain blocking on the high bog can affect downstream farmland and how alternative livestock drinking sources may need to be set up. They noted the benefit of extra income from results-based schemes like FarmPEAT and how taking supporting actions allows you to maximise these payments.