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Submission

LEAF Green Awards 2014

Aims & Objectives:

The conservation of a 500 acre natural heritage area through restoration and rehabilitation by

community-led management in partnership of with other stakeholders; and the provision of an

open access natural amenity for social, recreational and educational activities.

Rationale for nominating Abbeyleix Bog Project:

The Abbeyleix Bog Project is a community-led conservation initiative, well integrated into the

fabric and activities of the Abbeyleix community. Its activities have local, regional and

national impact. The project has managed to engage collaborate and co-operate with a

wide range of community organisations, NGO’s, state agencies and bodies. It has now

become a model of how communities can play their part in nature conservation in Ireland.

The Abbeyleix Bog Project has brought a sense of pride and place to community of

Abbeyleix.

Current/recent activities and achievements:

Employment of JobBridge intern through Laois Co Co

An intern was employed by Laois Co Co on behalf of the Abbeyleix Bog Project in April.

ABP was privileged to obtain the expertise and help of Dr Emma Seale of Attanagh for

nearly 5 months. She has now started her own business.

Implementation of corporate logo and brand

New corporate logo was designed for ABP and was implemented based on the brand

guidelines supplied.

Building of Boardwalk on the raised bog:

A grant received through Laois Partnership under Rural Development funding, was utilised

to buy the materials for the boardwalk. Based on our own design, the building of the

boardwalk was all done through voluntary labour by ABP local volunteers, members of

Portlaoise Mens’ Shed and participants in the Rural Social Scheme. Building took only two

months to complete with less than 1% material waste.

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Official opening of boardwalk:

The official opening of the boardwalk was done by Dr John Feehan as a Heritage Week

event. The boardwalk was dedicated to the memory of local Killamuck resident, Mary

Hutchinson, an Abbeyleix Bog activist and supporter who passed away on the bog. The

event featured on Laois Matters programme of the Irish TV channel.

Photographic exhibition Tina Claffey in Abbeyleix Library:

Another Heritage Week event organised by ABP. It featured the photographic work of Tina

Claffey. The exhibition, entitled Seoda – Treasure of the Wetlands, was hosted in the

Abbeyleix Library and more than 50% of photographs were taken on Abbeyleix Bog.

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Building of Bug Hotel in cooperation with IWT Laois/Offaly:

This Heritage Week event was organised in conjunction with the Laois/Offaly branch of the

Irish Wildlife Trust. More than 45 kids came to help build the ‘hotel’ and then went on a bug

hunt for guests. The event was featured on Laois Matters programme of Irish TV channel.

Conservation Management Plan 2015-20:

With grand aid from The Heritage Council, ABP commissioned a 5-year Conservation

Management Plan for the project. The plan was published in October 2014.

Conservation Work Group with CVI, IWT Laois/Offaly:

On 2 occasions local volunteers, together with volunteers from Conservation Volunteers

Ireland, Irish Wildlife Trust (Laois/Offaly), Groundforce (Killarney Forest), Rathdowney

Mens’Shed & Birdwatch Ireland, joined forces to remove stunted Scots Pine trees from the

raised bog. This is a direct result of the newly published Conservation Management Plan.

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Attending the National Ploughing Championship:

ABP was present at the NPC 2014 in Ratheniska as part of the Laois Co Co pavilion. Loads

of dragonflies were made from wooden pegs and lollypop sticks.

Hosted schools, IWT national, North Tipp Walkers, Birr Photography Club:

Various guided walks for groups took place in 2014 - amongst others Heywood CS,

Crettyard NS, Irish Wildlife Trust national executive and members, Birr Photographic Club

and North Tipp Walkers. The latter resulted in an article in the Irish Times weekend edition.

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Took part in the Laois Walking Festival 2014:

ABP once again took part in the annual Laois Walking Festival with approx. 120 walkers

doing the Killamuck Loop walk.

Hydrological assessment by TCD supported by EPA:

As a direct outcome of the Conservation Management Plan, the Environmental Protection

Agency has funded a desktop hydrological assessment by Trinity College Dublin. This initial

assessment has now led to the Abbeyleix Bog being included as one of two sites for a 3-

year hydro-eco-climate study by TCD.

Visit by German University:

Dr Robert Paxton, Professor of General Zoology Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther-

Universität Halle-Wittenberg, together with 9 MSc students paid a visit to the Abbeyleix Bog

as part of their program in Ireland.

Bog Yoga November 2014

A small fundraising event, but also as a way to link the natural environmental with physical

and mental health took place on the boardwalk platform.

Positive impact made within local area/community:

Activities and events on the bog, general interest and use of the facility for recreation

purposes has led to additional business for the local hotel and other businesses in town.

ABP projects and events are integrated with other community groups and organisations in

town and had positive results - Tidy Towns points for 2014 has risen with 5 points and Abbeyleix

was joint-second in the national Notice Nature competition. Other organisations and events in

cooperation with ABP are Abbeyleix Applefest, Community Garden (GIY), Local Library and

Heritage House.

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Completion of the boardwalk and the placing of benches and picnic table on the pathway

afforded greater access to the raised bog and are providing an approved recreational

amenity to the local and wider community.

Recent successes of the project and the greater coverage in local and national media is

creating a sense of place and pride for the community of Abbeyleix.

Arts students of the Abbeyleix Further Education Centre use the bog as a resource and in

January 2014 two pupils of Heywood CS did a project for Young Scientist Exhibition based on

bog flora.

Positive impact in the wider community:

During the last year ABP has reached out and engaged in cooperative projects with IWT

Laois/Offaly, Portlaoise Mens’ Shed, and Conservation Volunteers Ireland.

ABP also initiated the establishment of the Community Wetlands Forum under the auspices of

the Irish Rural Link. The CWF now already has 6 community groups that are involved in the

management and/or conservation of peatlands or wetlands.

Apart from regional media, activities and events of ABP have also attracted national media

attention - 3 appearances on Irish TV’s Laois Matters and an article in the Sunday Times

(Weekend Edition) during 2014.

Abbeyleix Bog is a proposed National Heritage Amenity (pNHA) in the National Peatland

Strategy published earlier this year - a vindication of the community’s effort since 2000 to save

the area from peat harvesting.

The project, as an example community-led conservation, is now widely regarded as a model

and case study of how communities can become custodians or stewards of natural habitats.

Future plan and benefits to the organisation and wider community:

Implementation of the Conservation Management Plan on a phased basis - priority areas are

invasive species (Rhododendron) removal; maintenance of grass verges on the pathway;

removal of stunted trees from the raised bog; cooperation with TCD on the 3-year hydro-

ecological climate study; upgrading of the surface of the disused railway path and Placing of

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a vehicle turning point halfway down the track to facilitate emergency vehicles, as well mini

buses for people with low mobility to access the boardwalk

Fostering more partnerships and cooperation with other environmental NGO’s, governmental

agencies and bodies, as well private organisations.

Closer cooperation with tertiary institutions through collaborative research projects.

Identification of Young Scientist projects for 2015 onwards

Conservation management training programme to build capacity amongst ABP volunteers

and members of other local community conservation groups.

Fundraising to extent the current boardwalk, linking it to the existing loop walks

More Information:

www.abbeyleixbog.ie

Facebook: abbeyleixbog

Twitter: Abbeyleix Bog

Email: info@abbeyleixbog.ie