National Biodiversity is finally here! Check out the event the IPCC are hosting throughout the week 🐞🐛🌿 For more information visit www.ipcc.ie/events/ or biodiversityweek.ie

Over the weekend, the IPCC attended the Native Species Festival at Dublin Zoo to celebrate Ireland’s incredible wildlife and the people working to protect it! We met loads of people who had an interest in native Irish species, peatlands, and conservation work 🦋 #lovebogs #peatlands #nativespecies

Irish bogs host three types of carnivorous sundews; the Round‑leaved Sundew, Intermediate Sundew and Long‑leaved Sundew. These plants use sticky tentacles to trap and digest insects, gaining vital nutrients missing from nutrient‑poor peatlands. Photos: Long-leaved Sundew and Round-leaved Sundew.

Witnessed a special moment at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre today - dragonfly emergence! Larvae climb from the water, transform into teneral adults, and slowly harden their wings for first flight. Watch waterside plants in the coming weeks for more of these fascinating events. #lovebogs #dragonfly

This pretty little plant is known as a Bog Bean 🩷 It can be found from March to June in shallow waters, fens, bogs, and slow‑flowing water along canals. It has five unique star‑shaped petals that are white or pink, with a notable long white hairs fringed across the petals.

The Speckled Wood is one of the first butterflies you’ll see in April. Identified by its brown wings with cream speckles and eyespots on the hindwings. They flutter through dappled sunshine in hedgerows and woodlands. Spring sunshine brings them out early, so keep your eyes open on your next walk 🦋

World Curlew Day takes place on Tuesday, the 21st of April this year, and to celebrate the day, the IPCC will be hosting a free "Bog Walk and Talk". The event will take place at 11am on the 21st of April, and we will meet at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, R51 V293

The 1st of April marked the beginning of the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme run by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. During our first survey, we recorded one butterfly - a Brimstone. The Brimstone butterfly can be identified by its large yellow‑green, leaf‑shaped wings 🦋 @heritagecouncil.ie

To support the work of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council you can join us as a 'Friend of the Bog' or you can gift a subscription to someone you know 🎁 Join today through our website at www.ipcc.ie #lovebogs #peatlands #nature

Happy World Frog Day 🐸🌍 Some fantastic images from submitted 'Hop To It' Frog survey submissions! #lovebogs #frogs #worldfrogday

The assessment of the bogland species included in the Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species of Ireland 2025 report, all species are deemed in Favourable Status with Trends of Stable or Increasing, showing that the bogland species are stable even though their habitats are in poorer conditions.

The winter water monitoring and fresh water invertebrate surveys are now complete, finishing off this period with a trip to Girley Bog NHA💧 We were also lucky to identify multiple frog spawning spots while on the reserve 🐸 #lovebogs #peatlands

The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland 2025 has highlighted that the status of peatland habitats in Ireland are deemed as Bad and their Trends are classed as Deteriorating, with 6/8 declining. Pressures peatlands including drainage, peat extraction and afforestation.

The IPCC together with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands hosted a conference titled 'Futureproofing Ireland's Peatlands: Dutch Lessons in Restoration' at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and Lodge Bog Reserve. IPCC would like to thank all those who joined us for this conference. #LoveBogs

IPCC have observed the autumn caterpillars of Europes only protected butterfly, the marsh fritillary on Lullymore West. The IPCC and volunteers will now conduct a habitat assessment and larval nest count, this data will contribute to the nationwide population monitoring. #LoveBogs

Wildlife Gardening DIY Tips 🦔🪵 Leave a small pile of stones, sticks and logs in a corner of your garden to provide a home for hedgehogs. Rotting wood also provides shelter for a range of insects and fungi. So you don't clear away fallen leaves or branches; they will make a cosy home for someone!

Wildlife Gardening Tips 🐦🌳 Encourage birds into your garden by providing water and feeding them in winter with bird feeders. They enjoy seed mixes and mealworms. However, do not give them high energy foods during the spring and summer months, as it can interfere with the growth of their chicks. 🪺

Wildlife Gardening DIY Tips 🐸🦦 💦A Water Feature💦 A pond in your garden will introduce aquatic creatures and plants and attract many passing wildlife visitors to drink and bathe in the water. The larger the pond, the greater the diversity of wildlife living in it will be.

Wildlife Gardening DIY Tips Start a compost heap 🪱 This is a great way to recycle the nutrients in your garden and help birds. Of the peat moss harvested in Ireland, 66% is used by amateur gardener. So if you are buying compost, make sure that it is peat-free to combat the destruction of peatlands

Wildlife Gardening DIY Tips Ivy 🍃 This plant is surprisingly helpful in attracting a range of wildlife. Encourage it to produce flowering stems by pulling the shoots away from their support so that they hang free. The flowers will attract butterflies which feed on their nectar.

The Bog of Allen Nature Centre was the venue for an NBDC butterfly monitoring training facilitated by Jesmond Harding of Butterfly Conservation Ireland. After an informative talk, participants got outdoors and put their new theory into practice with a visit to Lullybeg nature reserve.

Wildlife Gardening Tips One of the best things for your garden is plant native plants and trees. Thistle, hawthorn, ivy and oak are some of the plants that provide seeds and shelter for animals and birds. Native wildflowers like clover, wood sorrel and meadow flowers help support pollinators.

How do I make a Wildlife Garden? 🦋🦔🐞 Wildlife gardening actually requires the minimum amount of maintenance. Diversity is the Key: The more diverse your garden is in terms of different plants and features and habitats then the more likely you are to attract a great variety of wildlife.

A big shout out to our volunteers for their amazing work over the last few weeks! 💚 There has been amazing progress in the gardens at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre already this summer. Our volunteers have been planting native wildflower beds in peat-free compost to encourage more pollinators.

🌍 It's World Peatland Day! Did you know peatlands cover around 3% of the global land surface but play a huge role in fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity? They provide us important services such as: 🌱 Carbon Storage, 💧 Flood Mitigation, and 🦋 A refuge to Wildlife!

Free Bat Walk Event!🦇 Join us for a fun and informative evening of bat hunting. This is a great chance to get outside and discover some of Irelands wildlife that you would not always hear or see. 🤎Meet at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre 🤎20th June- 9:30 pm

Our new ID swatches have arrived! 📑 We made great use of our identification swatches for National Biodiversity Week, where volunteers discovered plenty of butterflies and dragonflies. These amazing resources from the NBDC, ensure that you are always able to identify any creepy crawly 🐝

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council had a busy biodiversity week, and we would like to say a big thank you to all who participated in our events 🐝🐸 . As Biodiversity Week has drawn to a close for 2025, don't forget to value Ireland's biodiversity throughout the year!

Lunchtime with IPCC- 22nd May at 1pm 🤎 Join the IPCC for a lunchtime online talk for National Biodiversity Week 2025. You can join this free zoom 40 minute talk from your kitchen to your office. Visit ipcc.ie/events for more details.

Girley Bog Walk & Talk- 21st May 🐦🐝🔭 In partnership with the Native Woodland Trust, join us as we explore Girley Bog and its different habitats. Meet at Girley Hall Fordstown (Eircode: C15 PV21) at 7pm For more information visit biodiversityweek.ie or ipcc.ie/events

Lullymore Butterfly Walk- 20th May 🦋🐛 Join in on an exciting butterfly hunt in Lullymore West. We will be meeting at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11am. The IPCC recommends participants wear strong footwear and appropriate clothing for all weather.🌸🌷 Visit ipcc.ie or biodiveristyweek.ie

Free Admission 🐛🐞🦇 All visitors can enjoy free admission to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre throughout the week (19 to 23rd May) in honour of National Biodiversity Week 2025. The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is open from 10-4pm Monday to Friday. No bookings needed.

Lodge Bog Guided Nature Walk- 17th May 10am 🦔🐞 Join us tomorrow for our free guided nature walk to Lodge Bog for National Biodiversity Week 2025, exploring the fascinating life found on peatlands. The IPCC recommends participants wear strong footwear and appropriate clothing for all weather.

Biodiversity Week Events 16-25th May 🐞🐛 IPCC are hosting a range of free events during the week and we would like you all to join us. 🦋17th May- Lodge Bog Guided Nature Walk 🦋20th May- Lullymore Butterfly Walk 🦋21st May- Girley Bog Walk and Talk 🦋22nd May- Lunchtime with IPCC Online Talk

In Irish mythology, butterflies or Féileacán were thought to be human souls of the departed who were returning to reassure their loved ones or bring a message. It is said that their light wings allow them to pass between the two worlds. 🌿✨

The carnivorous plants have been busy! 🪰🐜 As the carnivorous plants in the greenhouse were getting a trim so that they can grow back healthy for the summer, we found an interesting surprise. A single pitcher plant can catch up to 250 prey items, such as mites, midges, spiders and beetles.

Early thorn- Selenia dentaria This tiny traveller made an appearance in our wildlife gardens at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre this week. Their beautiful wings are designed perfectly to camouflage against the trees on which they feed. 🪵

Home is where the hive is! 🐝🌼 We have begun our bumblebee monitoring on Lullymore West and have recorded many queen bees buzzing past. To help bumblebees you can: 🌺 Plant native flowers 🌺 Create wild unmanaged habitat 🌺 Cut the grass less 🌺 Avoid using pesticides or weed killer

Irelands Largest Spider! 🕷🕸 This semi-aquatic creature showed up in our wildlife gardens this morning and gave us quiet a surprise. The Raft Spider is mainly found in bogs and fens. They are famous for their ability to skim across the waters surface due to special hairs on their legs.

“I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species in the world”- Charles Darwin The Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) has come up to feed and soon the bogs will be full of these passive predators. Check out our website at buff.ly/33nNGFV to find out more about peatland plants.

Peatland News has arrived! 🗞📰 IPCCs newsletter, Peatland News, has now been sent out to our Friends of the Bog. This spring issue features the new peat soils map of Ireland, an analysis of the Nature Restoration Law and much more. For more information visit: buff.ly/kN0d0qk

Did you know that there are no rabbits on bogs? 🐰🐇 This is because rabbits rely on burrows, but peat is too waterlogged for them to build these burrows. Therefore, if you see an animal hopping across the bog, it is more than likely the native Irish hare as they make 'forms' for shelter.

Happy World Curlew Day! ❤️ It is not too late to come along to our Curlew Walk, where IPCC guides will provide an information talk on this wading bird. We will be meeting at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11 am this afternoon (Friday 18th April). We hope to see you there!

Global Art Competition 🎨🖌 The Wild Postcard Project Art Competition is still open for entries! The competition is open to anyone ages 3-18, anywhere in the world. Entries must be submitted by 1 June and must be biodiversity themed. Why not get your school involved: buff.ly/QyjsAFz

Get ready for our World Curlew Day event❗ The IPCC will be hosting a free walk and talk to Lodge Bog on Friday 18th April, starting at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11am. ☕🌤 IPCC guides will share with you the management we undertake for this iconic bogland birds, and you may even see one.

Join us for our Meitheal Volunteer Days 🌳🪻🌸 As the weather is nice (fingers crossed) and we have no schools visits, we are calling out to our volunteers to help us in our wildlife gardens at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. It is a great opportunity to meet like-minded nature lovers.

Welcome Nina! We would like to give a huge welcome to our newest member of staff Nina. She will help out with butterfly and bee surveys, school visits, and the management of the reserves as Conservation and Education Officer. 📋🌲🐝 Supported by The Heritage Council

Nature's tiniest ballet dancer! 🦋🐛 This week, we began our butterfly transect in Lullymore West and we have been greeted by many elegant residents on their afternoon flight. Comment on what butterflies you have seen out and about. Can you find the butterfly camouflaged in the image?

Active Peat Forming 🦆💧 Unfortunately this type of peatland is now rare in Ireland. Active bogs will show: ✅Sphagnum moss as a dominant peat forming plant ✅Acidic pH ✅No evidence of drainage, fire, invasive species, grazing or visitor trampling ✅No bare peat Learn more: buff.ly/1nlx4zT

Peatland restoration methods: Managing overgrazing Overgrazing has led to erosion and habitat loss of 7% of the area of blanket bog since the 80s! The major management technique is to reduce the stocking densities of sheep to a level of less than 1 sheep per hectare. Learn more: buff.ly/CSHXsiR