Farmers tour peatland restoration site at Glenveagh

Farmers and interested parties attended an open day on peatland restoration at a private site near Glenveagh National Park, organised by ACRES Donegal.

Henry O’Donnell, Programme Manager at ACRES Donegal, led three timed tours that began at the park’s car park, with a shuttle bus taking participants to the restoration area five minutes away.

During the visit O’Donnell explained the benefits of peatland restoration for water quality, biodiversity, carbon storage and erosion control. He highlighted the use of geotextile mats to cover bare soil, reducing erosion and carbon dioxide emissions while encouraging vegetation, and coir logs that slow water runoff, allowing plants to establish.

Participants observed the removal of high turf banks, which improves access across the bog and reduces landscape scarring. At a blocked drain, timber dams and peat plugs were shown holding back water, enabling sediment to settle before it reaches downstream watercourses.

Landowner William Wilkie said he was initially sceptical but now finds the work simple and enjoyable, noting that it is easier to move a quad across the site to round up sheep. Local contractor Michael Gallagher demonstrated the reprofiling of a turf bank, and a farmer remarked on the unexpected cleanliness of the site.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Raul Ling / Pexels.