Community Wetlands Forum

Overview of the Planning System for Communities. Guidance on participatory planning, what your community needs to know and updates in the planning system. Open to everyone! 10--1 pm, Tue 16th Sep. Online Workshop. With Ciaran Lynch, CEO of Community Engagement Partners Ltd. By the Community Wetlands Forum.

✨Overview of the Planning System for Communities✨

Open to everyone, please share! Workshop featuring guidance on participatory planning, what your community needs to know and updates in the planning system.

When: 10-1 pm Tue 16th Sep
Where: Online, register ➡️ www.eventbrite.ie/e/overview-o...

National Heritage Week 16-24 August 2025. www.heritageweek.ie. Search for the keywords ‘bog’, ‘peat’ or ‘wetland’ on the heritage week website. Check out our top picks by swiping. Background image of a person walking on a raised bog boardwalk with woodland in the background. It's a sunny day with clouds.

16th, 11 am, Co. Roscommon: Eco Bog Talk & Walk at Kilteevan and Cloonlarge Bog 16th-17th, Co. Meath: Bog Bothy at Girley Bog 16th, 4 pm, Co. Kerry: From Sea to Shore with Tralee Bay Wetlands 16th, 4.30 pm, Co. Roscommon: Guided Walk on the Ballydangan Bog Red Grouse Project 16th-21st, Co. Offaly: Nature Arts & Crafts at Clara Bog Visitor Centre 17th, 2 pm, Co. Kildare: Heritage & Nature Day on Knockirr / Carbury Bog 17th-24th, Co. Kildare: The Peatlands Immersive Exhibition

18th, 6.30 pm, Co. Kildare: Lodge Bog Walk & Talk 19th, 11 am, Co. Kildare: Butterfly Walk to Lullymore West Bog 19th, 6 pm, Co. Offaly: Tree ID Walk at Doory Wood, Clara 20th, 6.30 pm, Co. Laois: Mapping Peatlands - A RePEAT Project 20th, 6.30 pm, Co. Meath: Girley Bog Walk & Talk 21st, 11 am, Co. Clare: Wild Walk through Shannon Wetlands 22nd, 5 pm, Co. Westmeath: Echoes of the Callows - Ireland's Native Waders and Their Place in Our Heritage

22nd, 6.30 pm, Co. Offaly: Photography Walk at Killaun Bog with Tina Claffey 23rd, 11 am, Co. Roscommon: Guided Ecology & Heritage Walk at Ballyforan Bog 23rd, 12 pm, Co. Offaly: Bog Guardians - Bog Walk & Kite Flying 23rd, 1.30 pm, Co. Limerick: Peatlands & Climate Change Workshop at Griston Bog 23rd, 2 pm, Co. Mayo: Introducing Children to the Wonders of the Bog 24th, 10 am, Co. Cork: Sphagnum Moss ID Workshop 24th, 11 am, Co. Carlow: Flight, Water, Home - The Birds of Drummin Bog

Heritage Week is running from 16th-24th August! You can view and filter events by location and keyword on www.heritageweek.ie. Our favourite keywords are 'bog', 'peat', and 'wetland'.

Check out our top picks below and find direct links to each of these events here: mailchi.mp/895b0a7953d6...

Bog Trotters Festival & Summer Solstice Celebration 2025. 19th-22nd June in Clara, Co. Offaly. Family-friendly events with walks, talks, art, food, music, smithing and a visit to the Bog Bothy! www.communitywetlandsforum.ie/events. Background image of sunset and foreground images of people on a woodland walk, a raised bog boardwalk, bog ore smithing, and the bands Ever After, Barnburner, Pippa Molony, and Rory Sweeney. Funded through the Natura Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme. Organised by Clara Heritage Society. Supported by the Community Wetlands Forum.

6.30 pm 21st June at Clara House. Live music and BBQ at the Bog Trotters Summer Solstice Celebration. Bands include Ever After, Barnburner, Pippa Moloney & Rory Sweeney. Join the bog ore smithing demo at 4 pm, Saturday 21st June, and have a go yourself! Background image of sunset and foreground images of the bands and a smithing demonstration. Funded through the Natura Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme. Organised by Clara Heritage Society. Supported by the Community Wetlands Forum.

Two weeks till the Bog Trotters Festival! ➡️ www.eventbrite.com/e/bog-trotte...

📍Clara, Co. Offaly
📆19-22 June

✨HIGHLIGHTS✨
▪️Nature walks & talks
▪️Art, crafts & theatre
▪️Bog ore smithing & knife-making demo
▪️Summer Solstice Celebration with live music and a BBQ by Island Farm Foods
▪️On-site camping

👏 @peatlandconserve.bsky.social; Sarah Morgan, Midlands Regional Enterprise; Lemanaghan Bog Heritage Group; Kilcormac Development Association; Mark McCorry, Bord na Móna; Clara Heritage Society; Tóchar Wetlands Scheme; Lullymore Heritage Park; and Birr & Tullamore Lions Clubs, with the Grennans 🧵2/2

A group of 8 people smiling and standing in the ruins of a stone building on a cloudy evening.

We had a brilliant time hosting the Finnish Bog 2.0 project, led by Simo Häyrynen, last week as they learned about Irish peatlands and the Just Transition. Everyone found it a really enjoyable and informative trip! Thank you to all who facilitated meetings and field trips over the three days 🧵1/2

An Asylum of Cuckoos A stop motion animation created by participants of the My Singing Bird Project for Tipperary Arts Office's Bealtaine 2025 programme. The group shared stories…

Inspired by Scohaboy,terrific new creation by local artists Leisa Gray & Andy Spearpoint 👏👏 @tocharstories.bsky.social @jamierohu.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social @communitywetlands.bsky.social @peatlands.bsky.social

three men standing on railway lines being built in 1959 in Co Offaly by Bord na Móna

Exploring the @nlireland.bsky.social for bog stories - particularly of Lemanaghan and found this catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls0... - James o'Dea the photographer of the Bord na Móna railway line in 1959 for the harvested peat #tócharstories Anyone know who they are? @communitywetlands.bsky.social

A big group of people standing in front of a green hedge beside Community Wetlands Forum pull-up banners.

People standing on a raised bog with bog cotton in flower, a bog pool in the foreground, plus trees and a sunset in the background.

A group of people standing on a raised bog boardwalk with bog cotton flowering. It's a sunny day and there are trees in the background.

A group of people in waterproof jackets standing on a raised bog boardwalk while it's raining and cloudy.

Busy May with our AGM, @tocharstories.bsky.social conference & Biodiversity Week (pictured sunset walk by @scohaboybog.bsky.social). This week, we're hosting a Finnish peatland group, with a rainy start at @peatlandconserve.bsky.social. Coming up: 19-21 June, Bog Trotters🎉 forms.gle/c7r7tSBazdzk...

Roscommon bog restoration hailed as 'superstar' project YouTube video by RTÉ News

Visiting with Pat Feehily in Roscommon today - what a remarkable, uplifting story of community moving to nature conservation - #RedGrouseProject #BallydanganBog - and what a day to be with him in such a beautiful place #Tócharstories @communitywetlands.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka3w...

www.communitywetlandsforum.ie/events Biodiversity Week 16th - 25th May 2025. Events by members of the Community Wetlands Forum. Background image of a raised bog and foreground image of people sitting on benches at a boardwalk on a raised bog.

Biodiversity Week May 2025. 17th @ 10:00. Explore the Wonders of Cloncrow Bog. Tyrrellspass Castle, Co. Westmeath 17th @ 20:30. Dusk Chorus at Scohaboy Bog. Crosslea, Co. Tipperary. 23rd @ 16:00. Cures, Dyes and Wild Cuisine. Shannon Town Wetlands, Co. Clare. 23rd @ 19:00. Treasures of the Bog. Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary. 23rd @ 19:00. Dusk Chorus at Tony’s Hill & Clara Bog. Clara Bog Visitor Centre, Co. Offaly. 24th @ 10:00. Bumblebees & Bogs for Beginners. Girley Bog, Co. Meath. 25th @ 10:00. Shanakyle Bog Restoration Walk. Parteen, Co. Clare.

@irishenvnet.bsky.social Biodiversity Week is on from 16th - 25th May! Our members have organised events exploring wetlands through the lens of ecology, art, traditional knowledge and community engagement ➡️ communitywetlandsforum.ie/events.

The full events programme is on www.biodiversityweek.ie 🎉

Launching tomorrow 10th May at Esker Arts Centre Tullamore Co. Offaly at 3pm.
Honoured to have my work featured in this prestigious exhibition. All are welcome 💕 @communitywetlands.bsky.social @peatlandecr.bsky.social @fintankelly.bsky.social

eskerarts.ie/events/bogskin

Join us this Thursday in Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath! Register here: www.eventbrite.ie/e/community-...

Four people are drilling wooden planks onto a timber frame. Photo by Shane Hynan.

@irisharchitecturef.bsky.social has an open call for an artist to work with local communities during the 2025 Bog Bothy Tour. It is supported by Creative Ireland, Offaly County Council & Meath County Council.

Apply by 9th May: tr.ee/rVUjGx

Photo: Shane Hynan, Bog Bothy Building Workshop, Aug 2024.

Fully agree with @rayofoghlu.bsky.social 👏,’real change comes through dialogue’ and honouring our neighbours decency,this is the key to Scohaboy’s success story👍 @tocharstories.bsky.social @npwsireland.bsky.social @jamierohu.bsky.social @irishwildlifetrust.bsky.social @communitywetlands.bsky.social

Community Wetlands Forum. We are hiring - join our team. Development Officer. The Development Officer will work to support and engage with current members, to assist the organisation to grow its membership, and to build public awareness of the Community Wetlands Forum through communications and outreach activities. Deadline: Sunday 18th May. Website: communitywetlandsforum.ie.

We're hiring a Development Officer to engage with current members, to grow our membership, and to build public awareness of the Community Wetlands Forum through communications and outreach activities.

View details: communitywetlandsforum.ie/development-.... Deadline: 17:00 Sun 18th May.

#jobfairy

Community Wetlands Forum logo. Networking Workshop & AGM. 10 am on Thur 8th May 2025. Tyrrellspass Castle, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath. Image of Community Wetlands Forum members on a site visit.

Community Wetlands Forum logo. www.communitywetlandsforum.ie/events. Agenda: 10 am Tea/Coffee & Registration. 10.30 am Citizen Science & Nature Restoration. 11.10 am Community Group Risk Management. 11.50 am Overview of the Planning System. 1 pm Lunch & Networking. 1.30 pm AGM & Guided Walk to Cloncrow Bog.

Our 2025 Networking Workshop & AGM is almost here!

📆 10 am on Thursday, 8th May 2025
📍 Tyrrellspass Castle, Co. Westmeath.

We're excited to announce three sessions on citizen science, risk management for community groups, and the planning system.

Register now: www.communitywetlandsforum.ie/events

A group of people standing on a cutover raised bog on a sunny day.

A group of people standing on a cutover raised bog on a sunny day.

An old roadway showing on an eroded cutover raised bog.

Old machinery parts rusting over.

The CWF Technical Advisory Committee's recent study trip was led by Jim Ryan and hosted by Ciara & Adrian Egan, plus members of the Lemanaghan Heritage Group. The old roadways, Bord na Móna rehabilitation, and paludiculture plots inspired discussions on the different ways we value or use peatlands.

Great to catch up with @tocharstories.bsky.social & @communitywetlands.bsky.social today at Lemanagh Bog Group, seeing An Slí Mór Tochar at rewetted Derrnagun Bog & Paludiculture demonstration at Egan’s Farm @jamierohu.bsky.social @aoife-greene.bsky.social @peatlands.bsky.social

Ancient Horsetail, a living fossil older than the dinosaurs, emerging from the bog pools @communitywetlands.bsky.social @charleenhurtubise.bsky.social @claireissimo.bsky.social @scohaboybog.bsky.social @peatlandecr.bsky.social

A person taking a photograph on a raised bog, there is a tree with no leaves on the left.

A person taking a photograph on an old bog road at a raised bog. There are trees either side of the bog road.

Catkins and flowers on a willow tree.

On Saturday, we joined our member group, Kilteevan Tidy Towns, for their photography workshop with @tocharstories.bsky.social and artist Shane Hynan. We practised telling a narrative through compelling photo composition at the Cloonlarge Bog Loop. We saw lots of Hare's tail cottongrass & Bog myrtle!

Walk’n’talk this Thursday with Coillte Ecological Team on ecological restoration plans with our two community partnership sites @npwsireland.bsky.social @jamierohu.bsky.social @communitywetlands.bsky.social @tinaclaffey.bsky.social @tocharstories.bsky.social @whittledaway.bsky.social

Hare's Tail Bog cotton is coming into bloom, ready to dance in the Spring sunshine @peatlandecr.bsky.social @scohaboybog.bsky.social @charleenhurtubise.bsky.social @claireissimo.bsky.social @tocharstories.bsky.social @communitywetlands.bsky.social

Tina Claffey's photographs of a shielf bug, Sphagnum moss, and Sundew on display at BogSkin - an exhibition at the RHA Gallery.

People standing in a room exhibiting peatland photographs and Sphagnum mosses at BogSkin - an exhibition at the RHA Gallery.

You have until 20th April to see BogSkin at @rha-arts.bsky.social➡️ rhagallery.ie/events/exhib...! It celebrates the relationship of art to the bogs over the past 50 years. Keep an eye out for pieces by friends of the Community Wetlands Forum — @tinaclaffey.bsky.social, Fiona McDonald & Shane Hynan.

A group of 8 people smiling for a photo before banners reading "Offaly County Council" and "Heritage Council". They're holding copies of the Offaly County Council Biodiversity Action Plan and the Community Wetlands Forum Beginner's Guide to Wetlands.

Well done to Offaly County Council on the www.offaly.ie/offaly-biodiversity-action-plan launch at today's conference👏Community Wetlands Forum members, Clara Heritage Society & @abogslife.bsky.social , were delighted to attend & share copies of the Beginner's Guide to Wetlands! View PDF: tr.ee/x5ykD8

Snipe in the Flow Bog , Co Cavan . Camaflague , blink and you’ll miss it @communitywetlands.bsky.social