The Drummin Bog Committee recently hosted a guided walk and talk at Drummin Bog as part of County Carlow’s inaugural Carlow Climate Action Week 2024.

As the only remaining raised bog in Carlow and the Southeast of Ireland, restoring Drummin Bog is crucial to transforming this area into a carbon sink, while raising awareness of bog restoration’s importance in climate action.

Drummin Bog holds many values—it is a vital habitat for diverse flora and fauna, and it serves as a place of local heritage (see our wonderful Oral History recordings) and provides well-being to all who visit it.

All this makes Drummin Bog an invaluable outdoor learning resource for nearby schools and communities, especially during this decade that the UN has designated as the “Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.” We can all be part of #GenerationRestoration and volunteers are always welcome to join us.

During the walk, we enjoyed a beautiful autumnal day, and Aoife Kirk (formerly with “Connecting Communities with Peatlands” led by the Community Wetlands Forum and Irish Rural Link), shared her expertise on bog formation and wetland restoration across Ireland. She also provided a very useful illustrated guide for us all, on peatland formation, flora and fauna identification. It will be very useful for future events.

Martin Lyttle, a former geotechnical engineer and member of the Drummin Bog Project Committee, shared insights from scientific surveys and restoration work completed to date. He also discussed the ongoing water-level monitoring led by James Lalor, Drummin Bog’s hydrogeologist, as well as future restoration and community engagement plans for this unique habitat in Southeast Ireland.

We were also pleased to connect with members of the nearby St. Mullins Tourism and Heritage Committee and others who share a deep appreciation for this special region. There were many points of interest between the two groups which will be fruitful for South County Carlow and we all enjoyed our tea and cakes on the bog too.

Additionally, we were delighted to welcome Aine Byrne, County Carlow’s Community Climate Action Officer, back to Drummin Bog, and we are grateful for her support in including the Drummin Bog Walk and Talk in Carlow’s first Climate Action Week.

PLEASE NOTE: Access to Drummin Bog is limited due to the sensitive nature of the habitat and its status as a wildlife reserve. Great precaution must be taken in visiting the bog due to its unmarked deep drains, and other hazards. It is therefore recommended people do not walk on the bog alone. Children must always be supervised and no dogs please as efforts are in place to encourage birds to return. Thank you for understanding. In time, a woodland walkway is envisaged. The Drummin Bog Project is in its very early stages.