Pollinators play a vital role in any ecosystem including peatland habitats. Ireland is home to 35 species of butterflies and 21 species of bumblebees however, they face a great number of threats today. According to the National Biodiversity Data Centre and National Parks and Wildlife Service, one-third of bee species and 18% of butterfly species are threatened with extinction in Ireland. This is due to a variety of reasons including a lack of nectar rich wildflowers as a result of how we manage the land. Lullymore West Bog in Co. Kildare is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. It was a raised bog but now is a wet grassland which is home to over 26 species of butterflies, including the Annex II Marsh Fritillary. Scrub clearing and donkey grazing are two methods used to maintain the open grassland habitat as the growth of invasive scrub would provide unsuitable conditions for many of the butterflies on site. For Biodiversity Week 2022, IPCC are hosting hosting a walk, talk and day of action event to Lullymore West. Learn how IPCC manage this wet grassland for wildlife, learn about some of the of the butterflies and bumblebees found here and take part in a day of action. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in the management of the site from scrub clearing to installing a temporary electric donkey fence in preparation for the arrival of the local conservation donkeys. This is a free event aimed at members of the public interested in peatland and wildlife conservation and management.

We meet at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11am. Please dress for the weather and wear strong waterproof footwear.