Watch: The transformation of peatlands on a farm in Co. Offaly
A suckler farmer in Co. Offaly has today (Wednesday, May 21) showcased how an innovative new project has helped to transform peatlands on his family farm.
The transformation according to Donie Regan is down to his decision to take part in Ireland's first on-farm paludiculture trials.
The project was officially launched today at the Regan farm in Gortavally, Shinrone, Co. Offaly.
It is funded by the funded by the Irish government and the EU, and run by Green Restoration Ireland (GRI),
Regan took over his family farm in the 1980s, and has been farming the land ever since. When the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) sent out expressions of interest for the project, Regan decided he had 'nothing to lose'.
He told Agriland: 'We are delighted with it. This bog has been sitting here for the last 45 years, not being used. We let them on, they blocked the drains, and put in a few ponds. As everything went on there was an awful lot more wildlife, more insects, everything was starting to reappear.
'They decided to put in fruit bushes. We have all the superfruits, they're only in a couple of years but they're going very well.
'The amazing thing is, anything can grow on bog. We've every sort of a vegetable over there, and they all grew.'
At the launch of the project, Dr. Doug McMillan and Dr. Bastiaan Molleman, who work for GRI, demonstrated the work that was being done on the farm for the peatlands, and for nature restoration.
Dr. McMillan explained: 'With the project, GRI is offering free, hands-on support to farmers, farm advisors, and the wider community.
'Participating farmers can avail of comprehensive, no-cost surveys to assess their peatland's potential for carbon payments, paludiculture crops and the establishment of paludiculture crops.'
'The project also offers free on-farm training delivered at the pioneer farms in Co. Offaly to demonstrate how to successfully manage your peatlands and unlock new income streams,' he added.
Peatlands
The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien has welcomed the project as a 'valuable opportunity' opportunity to support the transition towards climate-neutrality and encourage biodiversity.
Minister O'Brien said: 'Peatlands for Prosperity demonstrates an environmentally sustainable solution to the challenges of the cessation of peat extraction in the midlands, placing the welfare and wellbeing of the farming community at its core.
'This project represents the necessary shift towards environmentally conscious land use while enabling farmers to access new potential sources of revenue.
'We look forward to witnessing the impact and influence of this project on future initiatives,' he added.
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