Scragh Bog | |
---|---|
Location | County Westmeath, Ireland |
Coordinates | 53°34′44″N 7°21′36″W / 53.579°N 7.36°W |
Area | 56 acres (0.23 km2) |
Governing body | National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Scragh Bog is a national nature reserve of approximately 56 acres (0.23 km2) in County Westmeath. It is considered Ireland's best example of a habitat transitioning from an alkaline fen to an acidic raised bog, and is deemed to be of international importance.
Scragh Bog was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1992. [1] A large area of the bog was bought by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council with funding from the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs in 1987. [2] It was later handed over to the Irish state to be managed as a nature reserve. [3]
Scragh Bog is deemed to be Ireland's best example of a habitat transitioning from an alkaline fen to an acidic raised bog, one of only a small number still extant in Europe and of international importance. A large number of rare flora and insects in Europe have been recorded in the reserve. Some of the flora include sundew, round-leaved wintergreen, and sphagnum moss. [3] The creation of the nature reserve was cited as the reason that a number of rare insects have been conserved in Ireland. [4]
Skylarks and common snipe live on the reserve. [3] The site has a number of boardwalk routes for visitors. [5] [6]
Scragh Bog | |
---|---|
Location | County Westmeath, Ireland |
Coordinates | 53°34′44″N 7°21′36″W / 53.579°N 7.36°W |
Area | 56 acres (0.23 km2) |
Governing body | National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Scragh Bog is a national nature reserve of approximately 56 acres (0.23 km2) in County Westmeath. It is considered Ireland's best example of a habitat transitioning from an alkaline fen to an acidic raised bog, and is deemed to be of international importance.
Scragh Bog was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1992. [1] A large area of the bog was bought by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council with funding from the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs in 1987. [2] It was later handed over to the Irish state to be managed as a nature reserve. [3]
Scragh Bog is deemed to be Ireland's best example of a habitat transitioning from an alkaline fen to an acidic raised bog, one of only a small number still extant in Europe and of international importance. A large number of rare flora and insects in Europe have been recorded in the reserve. Some of the flora include sundew, round-leaved wintergreen, and sphagnum moss. [3] The creation of the nature reserve was cited as the reason that a number of rare insects have been conserved in Ireland. [4]
Skylarks and common snipe live on the reserve. [3] The site has a number of boardwalk routes for visitors. [5] [6]