Blanket bog

Blanket bogs are integral to the natural and cultural heritage of the Iveragh Peninsula.

They are a vital habitat for a range of plants and animals, many of which are severely threatened or at risk of being lost entirely from the Irish landscape. The waterlogged soils and plant communities in our blanket bogs protect surrounding areas from flooding and are an incredibly effective store of carbon from the atmosphere.

Blanket bogs have traditionally been used as a source of fuel to heat homes and for livestock grazing. Many relics of the past have also been preserved in bogs: former dwelling places, field systems, tools and even ancient woodlands!

There is so much to learn about how these bogs have formed over thousands of years, their importance to humans and the fascinating plant and animal communities that they support, when they are well cared-for.