West Clare Farm Peatland Rewetting Project Provides Biodiversity Boost for Nature Restoration

The Knocknahila Bog Peatland Rewetting Project, an ambitious project which involves rewetting sections of a blanket bog near Mullagh, Co. Clare is the second community led peatland rewetting project to be undertaken in County Clare and the first of its kind in West Clare.

The project is a collaborative effort between local farmer Seán Tubridy, local group - Knocknahila Community Group and Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer, Barry O’Loughlin. Funded by Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Office and the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (National Parks and Wildlife Service), the project aims to rewet sections of 27-acres of peatlands.

Encouraging other farmers to consider rewetting peatlands Seán Tubridy said, “We have 27 acres of cut away bog that we did not want to plant in forestry. Rewetting allows the bog to do what it does best in growing a wide variety of mosses and plants, which, in turn, sequesters carbon and also improves the environment for hen harrier, merlin, larks and other birds to roost, nest and feed. We also expect to see a big increase in frogs, newts, pond skaters, damselflies and dragonflies.”

“We hope that this project can be used as an example for other farmers who have a similar size farm set up as ourselves, and rather than planting, to rewet bogs to improve conditions for biodiversity. Our cattle still graze grassland around the edge of the bog. We welcome farmers to come and see for themselves.”

Describing the project as a significant step towards addressing the biodiversity crisis at a local level, Biodiversity Officer, Mr O’Loughlin, said, “This is a project to showcase to farmers where even light touches can make a big difference without causing any impact to neighbouring lands. For these projects to be successful, you have to work with farmers and listen to them, as they know the land better than anyone else and understand the history of the site and drainage, which is what we did here at Knocknahila”

The Knocknahila blanket bog was cut for turf more than 100 years ago but eventually this practice ceased.  Over time, the local drainage network broke down, leading to the natural rewetting of sections of the bog as the drains blocked with mosses and the water table started to rise near the surface once more. This created ideal conditions for Sphagnum moss, the main peat-forming agent of bogs, to take over and colonise on the bog.

In June 2023, it was decided that Mr Tubridy’s bog was suitable for rewetting and the Knocknahila Community Biodiversity Group was founded by the local community. The group was successful in acquiring funding to conduct hydrological surveys by RPS Group and Blackthorn Ecology. These surveys ensured neighbouring lands were not affected and that all boundary drains remained open.

The implementation of the project, funded by Clare County Council and NPWS, involved the installation of peat dams within open drains to raise the water level for Sphagnum moss to establish itself.

A network of peat bunds, which which act like low barriers to hold water on the bog, were also installed to rewet discreet sections of the bog. As a result of this work Knocknahila Bog is now supporting the expansion of the rare peatland habitat known as an ‘active blanket bog’.

The work, carried out by peatland contractor Kevin Farrell and overseen by the council’s biodiversity officer resulted in the creation of this new reconfigured habitat for dragonflies, damselflies, frogs, smooth newts, and the snipe, hen harrier and merlin. Declining birds such as snipe and curlew depend on this habitat type for nesting.

Page last reviewed: 02/04/25

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