Restoration

Phase 1: Scientific Mapping of Drummin Bog

The voluntary Carlow Drummin Bog Project committee are delighted to announce after several years work, they secured LEADER funding to enable preliminary scientific investigation of Drummin Bog in South Carlow during 2020.

LEADER funding supported theSE SCIENTIFIC SURVEYS AS THE first stage of restoring the last remnant of raised bog, an important natural heritage site in the South East of Ireland.

The Drummin Bog project is also proudly advancing awareness for the UN Decade of Ecological Restoration 2021-2030

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Drummin Bog Project Chair Martin Lyttle explained:

“The Drummin Bog Project LEADER funding supported commissioned baseline scientific surveys and mapping of the bog. This is necessary to guide, inform and plan the future restoration of the site to again become an active peat-forming bog.”

The data collected from these surveys will also assist in the development of the overall site at Drummin bog as a conservation, educational and amenity area for the local community and beyond.

Following this, A Restoration Management Plan and community amenity plan will be prepared as part of this work for Phase 2.

Cultural-historical projects and podcast interviews for community engagement

Committee members Jules Michael and Cathy Fitzgerald were also successfully awarded Creative Ireland funds 2020-21 to invite paleo-ecologists from UCC | Wet Futures to survey Drummin Bog for pollen and sought the advice from master woodwright Eoin Donnelly on use of materials from the bog for creating cultural artefacts that resonate with the past history of human activity on boglands. Interviews will be created to increase appreciation of this special natural heritage and the many aspects to its restoration.

CREATIVE DRUMMIN BANNER PROJECT:

Pollen and ancient soil, flora and fauna analyses will provide a historical overview of flora and fauna changes over 1000s of years and will provide inspiration for creative engagement for communities in the South Carlow area. This data will feed into the Creative Drummin ‘Banner Project’ led by ecosocial artist and painter Jules Michaels.

CREATIVE DRUMMIN TRACKWAY PROJECT:

Eoin Donnelly’s insights will help Creative Drummin envisage contemporary and sensitive use of bog materials (for example, the birch that will be removed in restoration) to recreate understanding of ancient material use. Eoin’s knowledge of ancient bog roads, woodskills and coppicing will feed into the Creative Drummin Trackway Project led by ecosocial artist and painter Jules Michaels.

BIRDSEYE DRONE VIEWS OF DRUMMIN BOG

The Drummin Bog committee were also thrilled to receive drone footage of Drummin Bog by South Carlow videographer Louis de Fouw in 2019.

PODCAST INTERVIEWS

Ecosocial artist and educator Cathy Fitzgerald will conduct audio interviews with all the people who have contributed to the LEADER and CREATIVE Ireland surveys and projects. These interviews, shared on social media will increase awareness of Drummin Bog and the many aspects of its sensitive ecological restoration, conservation and increasing community engagement.