Using Our Peat Bogs

Using Our Peat Bogs

1. 5% of IRL covered in peat bogs

   • extracted for centuries
     • cooking/heating
   • up to 20th century only basic tools used
     • 1964 - Bord na Mona
       • sped up expoitation of bogs
       • exploits raised bogs
         • deep/flat/a lot of turf
         • Midlands

2. Exploiting our Midland Bogs

   • Step 1 - Bogs are prepared
     • Drainage
       • In the past
         • bogs left because ppl could not drain them
       • With newer technolgy
         • Ditcher
           • digs drains to remove surplus wayer
         • Grader
           • levels the bog
         • Heavy Tractors
           • lay railway tracks
   • Step 2 - Peat is harvested
     • With newer technology
       • milled peat
         • miller scrapes 1/2 cm of bog and tears into tiny fragments
         • left to dry
           • turned over by a harrow to speed it up
         • ridgers
           • gather it into small ridges
         • harvesters
     • in the past
       • slean
         • used to cut turf sods
       • sods footed and left to dry
   • Step 3 - Peat is transported away
     • in the past
       • animal drawn carts
     • with newer technology
       • turf trains
   • Step 4 - Using the processed peat
     • in the past
       • sod peat used as household fuel
     • since bord na mona
       • milled peat for electricity
       • peat briquettes
       • moss peat
         • fertiliser
       • sod peat

3. Future Uses of Bogs

   • Used up/preserved?
   • What can we do with our cutaway bogs?
     • coniferous trees can be grown
     • swampy wetlands for animals
     • wind farms