This blog celebrates the bogs and peatlands of Ireland, mostly through the lens of my local bogland, introduced here in A Girley Bog Story. Freeman Tilden quotes an American National Parks manual that illustrates my broad aim in writing about Girley bog, photographing it and occasionally leading walks on it:

“Through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection.”

About me

I am a researcher focusing on the cultural and social dimensions of peatland conservation and the role of communities in contributing to the restoration and resilience of peatlands. My research integrates social science, ecology, and the humanities to explore the relational networks between people and peatlands. I completed an MSc in World Heritage Management & Conservation from University College Dublin and my Masters research examined the social and cultural history of Girley Bog Natural Heritage Area in County Meath. I completed my PhD studies at the School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies at University of Galway, Ireland. My doctoral research focused on exploring the valuation of cultural ecosystem services at Irish peatlands and also looks at the role of community conservation initiatives in the protection of wetlands and peatlands in Ireland, working with members of the Community Wetlands Forum on this project. Publications arising from this research are available to read here:

Assigning value to cultural ecosystem services: The significance of memory and imagination in the conservation of Irish peatlands

Everyday resilience: Rural communities as agents of change in peatland social-ecological systems

A process perspective of conceptual innovation: Integrating equity in applications of the ecosystem services concept in Ireland

A Plain Language summary of the above article is available here.

As part of this research, I carried out Community Mapping workshops with people living near Girley Bog, Scohaboy Bog and Abbeyleix Bog. You can see the reports from the workshops at the links below:

Girley Bog Community Mapping Report

Scohaboy Bog Community Mapping Report

Abbeyleix Bog Community Mapping Report

I am currently the Project Officer for the Community Wetlands Forum on the Waterlands Horizon 2020 Project working on scaling up the restoration of wetlands across Europe. In 2017, I worked alongside members of the forum to develop the Community Wetlands Forum Strategic Plan 2017-2020, which set out the Mission, Vision and Values of the Forum and a plan of action to support members and develop the organisation.

This is a “Slow Blog”, a concept I first came across on the informative and interesting Ecology is Not a Dirty Word blog, which describes slow blogging as encouraging “insightful, considered posts uploaded less frequently when the author actually has something to say”. While I always have lots to say, I don’t always have time to be insightful and considered about it so hopefully, the slow blogging concept will justify my long periods of inactivity. Ultimately, I wish to do what I can to help conserve Ireland’s remaining peatlands and love the sense of solitude, peace and tranquillity that can be found on the bog.

*Tilden, F, Interpreting Our Heritage, 1957, University of North Carolina Press.

All photos © Kate Flood unless otherwise attributed. A Bog’s Life © 2014 by Kate Flood is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0