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

The tiny tadpoles have finally emerged from their eggs! 🐸💧 They feed on algae but as they grow they will become carnivorous. They will undergo metamorphosis, where they grow legs, lose their tails, and develop lungs. Share your frog encounters with us in the Hop to It Frog Survey at ipcc.ie

Happy St Patricks Day from the Irish Peatland Conservation Council! 🎉 🇮🇪 Today is a great day to celebrate all things Irish, including Irelands natural heritage. Did you know that we have over 12,000 insects, 4,000 plants, 400 bird species and 26 native land mammals on our small island.

Peatland restoration methods: Boardwalks Each footstep on the bog surface takes three years to disappear! Boardwalks reduce the damage while still allowing people to visit and enjoy the peatland safely.

Peatland restoration methods: Invasive species removal Invasive species limit light and block rainwater from reaching the peatland surface. Invasive species removal will improve peatland habitat condition allowing the native flora to thrive. buff.ly/1RNKNpI

Peatland restoration methods: Sphagnum moss transfer Sphagnum moss transfer is the transfer of Sphagnum moss to an area of moist, bare peat that is to be restored. Sphagnum mosses essential to the formation of peatlands and they are known as the "Bog Building Plants". Learn more: buff.ly/wZyWWJM

Job Opening! The Irish Peatland Conservation Council are now accepting applications for the position of Conservation and Education Officer. A full job description and the application form can be found on our website www.ipcc.ie. Closing date for applications is 7th March 2025.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council are delighted to promote the launch of the Wild Postcard Project Art Competition. Entries are open to anyone aged 3 to 18 from around the world and your art must showcase your local biodiversity. Find out more: www.wildpostcardproject.com

Happy World Wildlife Day! We would like to take time to celebrate the natural beauty of our wild landscapes, especially peatlands. You can help wildlife by: -Creating a wildlife garden -Volunteering -Choosing peat free compost -Donating to charities like the IPCC 🐝🌿🪱

Peatland restoration methods: Drain blocking In its natural state, a bog should be 95% water. Drainage removes water and lowers the water table. Drain blocking raises the water table so that peat formation can commence. Peats dams and plastic drain piling are commonly used. buff.ly/4i2kIuX

Peatland Restoration Methods Over the last few weeks, our posts have discussed indicators within peatlands that can be used to assess their condition, including invasive species, grazing, burning, and forestry. Stay tuned to discover the management practices used to protect peatland habitats!

Indicators of peatland condition: Invasive species Typical invasive species on peatlands include Rhododendron, Giant Rhubarb, Pitcher Plant, and Sitka Spruce. These species harm the peatland by limiting light and blocking rainwater reaching the peatland surface. Learn more https://buff.ly/3D3JhIN

An Army of Caterpillars! During our spring Marsh Fritillary survey, four new nests were found compared to in autumn. Therefore, in total we now have 33 nests. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped us find them as the nests can be hard to detect. To find out more, visit https://buff.ly/4id7YBr

The frogs finally arrived in our nature gardens at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on Friday! The males strike up a chorus during the breeding season, so make sure to listen out for their loud croaks as they return to the wetland in which they were born. #lovebogs