Restoring Raised Bog in Ireland
Coillte, Dublin Road, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow | Tel: 01- 201 1111 | Email: raisedbog@coillte.ie
EU Project Number:
LIFE 04 NAT/IE/000121
We have 2 demonstration sites for the Restoring Raised Bog in Ireland Project, they are located at Cloonshanville Bog, close to Frenchpark Village, in Co. Roscommon, and the second one at Carn Park Bog, close to Baylin Village, near Athlone, in Co. Westmeath. These bogs have been selected as demonstration sites for the project because they are close to the population centres of Boyle and Athlone.
Car parks and boardwalks have been constructed at both sites and interpretative signage has been put in place to facilitate visitors to the sites. The boardwalk can be accessed from the car park and it allows visitors to observe closely but safely, key features of the restoration project - such as:
- the areas where trees have been removed
- drains which have been blocked using either peat dams which have been mechanically installed or using eco-plastic which have been manually installed
The boardwalk also offers visitors the opportunity to see the recovering bog vegetation – such as:
- heathers
- sphagnum mosses – peat forming
- insect eating plants such as sundews
- cranberries an many more !!
The purpose of the demonstration sites is to facilitate public awareness of the project. Visitors to the demonstration sites will read from the interpretative signage of the project objectives, and actions.
The project demonstration sites have had many visitors over the last couple of years, school children, local communities, groups from Universities, and from many European countries – Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and many others, even as far away as Jamaica !!
Directions on how to get to the demonstration sites:
Carn Park Bog
Directions from Athlone, Co. Westmeath:
From the N6 turn onto the N55 Towards Cavan, turn right onto the Athlone to Mullingar Road R390 travelling towards Mullingar, travel to the 1st crossroads on that road approx 6/7 miles, take a left at the Four Seasons B & B, approx .5 mile to crossroads, take left turn travelling to Baylin or Bealin Village, go straight through the village travelling towards Mount Temple for approx 1 mile, turn right, travel along this road for approx ¼ of a mile - the car park for Carn Park Bog Restoration site is on the right hand side. Unfortunately the Car Park can only be opened for organized events – as we have a problem with litter control / vandalism.
See OSI smart map - X 612467, Y 741814
Click here to find out more about Carn Park Bog »
Cloonshanville Bog
Directions from the N5 travelling towards Castlebar, at Frenchpark village in Co Roscommon:
Turn right for Boyle onto the R361, travel a couple of hundred yards taking the 2nd turn on the right. Travel for approx. 1 mile along that road, Cloonshanville Bog Restoration site, car park, and boardwalk is on the left hand side. Unfortunately the Car Park can only be opened for organized events – as we have a problem with litter control / vandalism.
See OSI smart Map - X 574994, Y 790846
Click here to find out more about Cloonshanville Bog »
Visitors to the Demonstration Sites
The project has received many visits over the 4 year period 2004 2008, the demonstration sites have been particularly busy, visitors include :-
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