MWM Bog Heritage Project Summary and Objectives

MWM Bog Heritage Project
 
Presentation and Book Launch
Coolronan Ecology Centre
15 Feb 2013
Introduction
This project  was setup in Nov 2011
     by a group of people in the locality.
The project group is called MWM  Bog Heritage Group (Meath/Westmeath)
and is based here in this building called 
Coolronan Ecology Centre
 
 
Thanks to Paul Nolan , Swan Inn proprietor for allowing
      the group to be located in this building lease free for
      the moment.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective Summary
 
To develop an area within  Bord Na Mona managed section of Ballivor bog
as an amenity for the locality and for visitors.
 
Develop  this  area within the bog  where native bog plants and wildlife
can flourish for both educational and environmental reasons
 
To promote the heritage aspect of Ballivor bog for the interest of current
and former residents of the area, and for the wider community
 
To develop this building as a centre with information available on
      local  heritage and environmental issues
 
Bring some employment and business opportunities to the locality.
      This is a long-term objective
 
Objective 1
To develop an area within Bord Na Mona managed section of Ballivor bog
as an amenity for the locality and for visitors.
 
    
Ballivor Bog  was a raised bog that comprises an area of 7,000 acres
    approx.   Bord Na Móna have ownership and control of 5,500 acres
    of the total.
 
    The project group have  had discussions with Bord Na Móna
     to section an area within the area of bog under their control to be
     sectioned off  as part of a bog preservation and restoration project
     Also to facilitate walkways /access  through the bog
 
 
 
 
 
Objective 2
Create an area within the bog  where native bog plants and wildlife
can flourish
 
Native plants 
: Peat Forming Sphagnum Mosses ,Bog Bean, Deer Antler
                            Lichen, Butterwort, Sundew, Bog Cotton, Bell + Ling Heather,
                            Lichens, Cranberries, Bog Asphodel.
Native Animals:
 Fox, Hare, Deer, Bat
Native Amphibians
: Otter, Newt , Common Frog
Native Birds : 
Red Grouse, Corncrake, Curlew, Merlin , Lapwing, Hen Harrier,
                          Skylark, Meadow, Pipit
And many varieties of Invertebrates
:  Slugs, Spiders, Moths, and butterflies,
                                                                      Dragonflies, Damselflies ,Beetles
 
(List compiled from IPCC website)
Objective 3
To develop the heritage aspect of Ballivor bog for the interest of
current and former residents of the area, and for the wider
community
 
Plan to develop this building as a Bog Heritage and Information Centre
 
The group has met with some senior members of the community to recall
their recollections of growing up in and around Ballivor bog in 1940’s 1950’s
and 1960’s and their stories have been noted. We will  soon present these
details on our website. One important landmark in the bog is ruin of the
Brown family house.
 
These recollections are part of the history of the locality and are invaluable to
understand living and  working in the bog
 
Objective 4
Bring some employment and business opportunities to the
locality
If the project proceeds as planned , there is an    opportunity
 
to
 
support
existing businesses in the locality  eg
 
Ground work contractors to develop walkways , removal of items dumped
in bog. Also to assist re drainage work and developing areas of untouched
and cutover sections of  bog to develop sphagnum moss growth
 
Also once the site is established shops, hotels, guesthouses ,minibus
operators who would benefit by visitors to the area
 
 
Activities 2012
Activities to date include
 
Creation of membership cards to cover costs such as stationery ,
       public liability insurance etc Feb 2012
Creation of website 
www.mwmbogproject.com
  
Feb 2012
Presentation to Ballivor Community and Renaissance Group March 2012
Visited headquarters of IPCC (Irish Peatland Conservation Council) in
       Lullymore, Co Kildare April 2012
Meetings with senior residents of Ballivor Bog May 2012
Meeting with Meath Leader archaeologist re house ruin and Cloneycavan
Man June 2012
Meeting with environmentalist , Eanna Ni Lamhna  June 2012
 
Activities To Date 2012 continued
 
 
Meeting with Bord na Mona  Feb , July 2012
Meeting with Meath Co Council Heritage Dept , Aug 2012
Meeting with NPWS to discuss wildlife Sept 2012
Attended Bog Regeneration course run by IPCC Sept 2012
Formal application to Meath Leader for funding Sept 2012
Facebook page creation Sept 2012
Approval from Meath Leader  for this project to proceed Oct 2012
 
Meath Leader appointed project consultants commenced ecology survey of Ballivor
bog , and organised funding application,  Oct/Nov 2012
 
Attended Irish Peat Society seminar, Mayo  Oct 2012
Activities To Date 2013
 
Guided walk , Ballivor Bog , Jan 1st 2013
 
Attended Bord Na Mona  BioDiversity Action Plan
     Review Day, Lough Boora ,Co Offaly Jan 2013
 
Meeting with Bord Na Mona to review MWM Project
     objectives,  Jan 2013
 
Newstalk FM Radio Presentation Jan 2013
 
Attended Hydrology course, Navan Feb 2013
Future Activities Planned
 
Further guided walks , 2 more planned in 2013; one of these will be during
Heritage Week Sun  Aug 25th
Wild Food Foraging Walk , July /Aug , forms available at desk
Expand and add features to our membership , currently at over 100 ; forms
available at desk
Website content update  ; pictures and videos;  expand Facebook presence
Get firm commitment from Bord Na Mona to allow the group to     preserve
and develop  specific areas of Ballivor Bog
Develop Heritage and Information centre in this building
Visit centres around the country such as  Clara and Abbeyleix  to get further
ideas on bog heritage and amenities
Promote the study of bees and relationship to flora and fauna of a bog
Present  environmental awareness evenings  in the centre eg Bees , climate
issues , farming , woodlands etc
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flora and Fauna
 
Bees
 
Wetlands
Other Related Matters
This project is not intruding on any privately owned parts
      of Ballivor bog , only a section of Bord Na Mona bog as
      previously outlined.
 
The group is not opposed to private owners cutting turf
 
The project is planned to be a long term one which will take time to
       develop and maintain
 
Uses for Irish Peatlands and their resources
 
Animal Bedding
Bird Watching
Bog wood for carving
Camping , Orienteering , Fishing
Clay Pigeon Shooting
Bog snorkelling
Walking trails
Peat smoking of fish & whisky
Medicinal Plants , Heather honey
Balneology , therapies
(Ref Irish Peatland Conservation Council )
Amenity Activities
 
Bird Watching
 
Bog Tours
 
        
Nature Trails
 
Raised walkways
Items found in Irish Bogs
 
Bog Oak
Bog Butter
Human remains
Humour
  I lived in a bog for decades and didn't age a day.
            
Unfortunately, I smelled like rotten peat moss the
 
whole time and couldn't get a date in spite of my
 
eternally youthful looks.
              In retrospect, it just wasn't worth the hassle
          ……
Sometimes you can live in the bog too long
Functions of a bog
Bogs develop under conditions of low temperature, high
acidity, low nutrient supply, stagnant water, and oxygen
deficiency.
 
In addition to being a fuel source , bogs have other
important functions
 
filtering water ..
water quality
acting as a water collection basin…
drainage
accumulating carbon…
environmental
providing habitat for flora and fauna…
nature balance
Effects of Carbon emission
Once a peat bog dries out, it starts emitting carbon by giving off
carbon dioxide gas (CO
2
) and methane into the atmosphere, and by
releasing it into rivers and streams in the form of dissolved organic
carbon (DOC).
Bogs hold staggering amounts of carbon - estimated at 455
petagrams, around a third of the world's stock of soil organic
carbon. (1 Petagram = 1 Billion Metric Tonnes)
If bogs lose more carbon as DOC, this could have serious effects on
drinking water supplies. As well as turning water brown, dissolved
carbon can interfere with treatment filters and make it more
expensive to make water safe to drink.
And if peat bogs become badly degraded, there could also be
implications for the risk of flooding.
 
General Principles for Bog Restoration
Identifying bogs for preservation through environmental
assessment;
 
Using careful harvesting techniques so that restoration can
     be readily achieved
 
 Leaving at least three feet of peat at the bottom of the bog
 
 Returning of harvested bogs to functioning wetlands
Example of Bog Restoration project
In Abbeyleix Bog in 2009 , BNM worked with local community to
restore water levels to promote peat forming vegetation
 
In Abbeyleix, BNM worked with IPCC (Irish Peatland
Conservation council) , IPWS (Irish Parks and Wildlife service)
and Laois Heritage on this project. A lease agreement has been
put in place with the local community that passes responsibility
to local community to manage the bog there.
 
This is the type of joint initiative that the MWM Bog Project has
in mind to promote and sustain the bog.
End of Presentation
www.facebook.com/pages/MWM-Bog-
Project/18969444116467
 
mwmbogproject.com
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"The MWM Bog Heritage Project aims to develop a section of Ballivor bog for environmental and educational purposes, promote the area's heritage, and create employment opportunities. Objectives include creating an amenity area, preserving native plants and wildlife, and establishing a heritage and information center. The project involves collaboration with Bord Na Móna and community members to ensure the preservation and restoration of this unique ecosystem."


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  1. MWM Bog Heritage Project Presentation and Book Launch Coolronan Ecology Centre 15 Feb 2013

  2. Introduction This project was setup in Nov 2011 by a group of people in the locality. The project group is called MWM Bog Heritage Group (Meath/Westmeath) and is based here in this building called Coolronan Ecology Centre Thanks to Paul Nolan , Swan Inn proprietor for allowing the group to be located in this building lease free for the moment.

  3. Objective Summary To develop an area within Bord Na Mona managed section of Ballivor bog as an amenity for the locality and for visitors. Develop this area within the bog where native bog plants and wildlife can flourish for both educational and environmental reasons To promote the heritage aspect of Ballivor bog for the interest of current and former residents of the area, and for the wider community To develop this building as a centre with information available on local heritage and environmental issues Bring some employment and business opportunities to the locality. This is a long-term objective

  4. Objective 1 To develop an area within Bord Na Mona managed section of Ballivor bog as an amenity for the locality and for visitors. Ballivor Bog was a raised bog that comprises an area of 7,000 acres approx. Bord Na M na have ownership and control of 5,500 acres of the total. The project group have had discussions with Bord Na M na to section an area within the area of bog under their control to be sectioned off as part of a bog preservation and restoration project Also to facilitate walkways /access through the bog

  5. Objective 2 Create an area within the bog where native bog plants and wildlife can flourish Native plants : Peat Forming Sphagnum Mosses ,Bog Bean, Deer Antler Lichen, Butterwort, Sundew, Bog Cotton, Bell + Ling Heather, Lichens, Cranberries, Bog Asphodel. Native Animals: Fox, Hare, Deer, Bat Native Amphibians: Otter, Newt , Common Frog Native Birds : Red Grouse, Corncrake, Curlew, Merlin , Lapwing, Hen Harrier, Skylark, Meadow, Pipit And many varieties of Invertebrates: Slugs, Spiders, Moths, and butterflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies ,Beetles (List compiled from IPCC website)

  6. Objective 3 To develop the heritage aspect of Ballivor bog for the interest of current and former residents of the area, and for the wider community Plan to develop this building as a Bog Heritage and Information Centre The group has met with some senior members of the community to recall their recollections of growing up in and around Ballivor bog in 1940 s 1950 s and 1960 s and their stories have been noted. We will soon present these details on our website. One important landmark in the bog is ruin of the Brown family house. These recollections are part of the history of the locality and are invaluable to understand living and working in the bog

  7. Objective 4 Bring some employment and business opportunities to the locality If the project proceeds as planned , there is an opportunity to support existing businesses in the locality eg Ground work contractors to develop walkways , removal of items dumped in bog. Also to assist re drainage work and developing areas of untouched and cutover sections of bog to develop sphagnum moss growth Also once the site is established shops, hotels, guesthouses ,minibus operators who would benefit by visitors to the area

  8. Activities 2012 Activities to date include Creation of membership cards to cover costs such as stationery , public liability insurance etc Feb 2012 Creation of website www.mwmbogproject.com Feb 2012 Presentation to Ballivor Community and Renaissance Group March 2012 Visited headquarters of IPCC (Irish Peatland Conservation Council) in Lullymore, Co Kildare April 2012 Meetings with senior residents of Ballivor Bog May 2012 Meeting with Meath Leader archaeologist re house ruin and Cloneycavan Man June 2012 Meeting with environmentalist , Eanna Ni Lamhna June 2012

  9. Activities To Date 2012 continued Meeting with Bord na Mona Feb , July 2012 Meeting with Meath Co Council Heritage Dept , Aug 2012 Meeting with NPWS to discuss wildlife Sept 2012 Attended Bog Regeneration course run by IPCC Sept 2012 Formal application to Meath Leader for funding Sept 2012 Facebook page creation Sept 2012 Approval from Meath Leader for this project to proceed Oct 2012 Meath Leader appointed project consultants commenced ecology survey of Ballivor bog , and organised funding application, Oct/Nov 2012 Attended Irish Peat Society seminar, Mayo Oct 2012

  10. Activities To Date 2013 Guided walk , Ballivor Bog , Jan 1st 2013 Attended Bord Na Mona BioDiversity Action Plan Review Day, Lough Boora ,Co Offaly Jan 2013 Meeting with Bord Na Mona to review MWM Project objectives, Jan 2013 Newstalk FM Radio Presentation Jan 2013 Attended Hydrology course, Navan Feb 2013

  11. Future Activities Planned Further guided walks , 2 more planned in 2013; one of these will be during Heritage Week Sun Aug 25th Wild Food Foraging Walk , July /Aug , forms available at desk Expand and add features to our membership , currently at over 100 ; forms available at desk Website content update ; pictures and videos; expand Facebook presence Get firm commitment from Bord Na Mona to allow the group to preserve and develop specific areas of Ballivor Bog Develop Heritage and Information centre in this building Visit centres around the country such as Clara and Abbeyleix to get further ideas on bog heritage and amenities Promote the study of bees and relationship to flora and fauna of a bog Present environmental awareness evenings in the centre eg Bees , climate issues , farming , woodlands etc

  12. Flora and Fauna Bees Wetlands

  13. Other Related Matters of Ballivor bog , only a section of Bord Na Mona bog as previously outlined. This project is not intruding on any privately owned parts The group is not opposed to private owners cutting turf develop and maintain The project is planned to be a long term one which will take time to

  14. Uses for Irish Peatlands and their resources Animal Bedding Bird Watching Bog wood for carving Camping , Orienteering , Fishing Clay Pigeon Shooting Bog snorkelling Walking trails Peat smoking of fish & whisky Medicinal Plants , Heather honey Balneology , therapies (Ref Irish Peatland Conservation Council )

  15. Amenity Activities Bird Watching Bog Tours Nature Trails Raised walkways

  16. Items found in Irish Bogs Bog Oak Bog Butter Human remains Humour I lived in a bog for decades and didn't age a day. Unfortunately, I smelled like rotten peat moss the whole time and couldn't get a date in spite of my eternally youthful looks. In retrospect, it just wasn't worth the hassle Sometimes you can live in the bog too long

  17. Functions of a bog Bogs develop under conditions of low temperature, high acidity, low nutrient supply, stagnant water, and oxygen deficiency. In addition to being a fuel source , bogs have other important functions filtering water ..water quality acting as a water collection basin drainage accumulating carbon environmental providing habitat for flora and fauna nature balance

  18. Effects of Carbon emission Once a peat bog dries out, it starts emitting carbon by giving off carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and methane into the atmosphere, and by releasing it into rivers and streams in the form of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Bogs hold staggering amounts of carbon - estimated at 455 petagrams, around a third of the world's stock of soil organic carbon. (1 Petagram = 1 Billion Metric Tonnes) If bogs lose more carbon as DOC, this could have serious effects on drinking water supplies. As well as turning water brown, dissolved carbon can interfere with treatment filters and make it more expensive to make water safe to drink. And if peat bogs become badly degraded, there could also be implications for the risk of flooding.

  19. General Principles for Bog Restoration Identifying bogs for preservation through environmental assessment; Using careful harvesting techniques so that restoration can be readily achieved Leaving at least three feet of peat at the bottom of the bog Returning of harvested bogs to functioning wetlands

  20. Example of Bog Restoration project In Abbeyleix Bog in 2009 , BNM worked with local community to restore water levels to promote peat forming vegetation In Abbeyleix, BNM worked with IPCC (Irish Peatland Conservation council) , IPWS (Irish Parks and Wildlife service) and Laois Heritage on this project. A lease agreement has been put in place with the local community that passes responsibility to local community to manage the bog there. This is the type of joint initiative that the MWM Bog Project has in mind to promote and sustain the bog.

  21. End of Presentation www.facebook.com/pages/MWM-Bog- Project/18969444116467 mwmbogproject.com

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