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 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 |
Features
editScragh 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]
References
edit- ^ "S.I. No. 350/1992 - Nature Reserve (Scragh Bog) Establishment Order, 1992". Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Mannion, Teresa; Lawlor, Éamonn (5 October 1987). "Dutch Help Irish Bog Conservation". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "Scragh Bog Nature Reserve". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Mullingar bog tract saved for dragonfly". The Irish Times. 20 November 1997. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Getting Out and About in Mullingar". Mullingar.ie. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Waterways Ireland". www.waterwaysireland.org. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
Further reading
edit- O'Connell, M. The Developmental History of Scragh Bog, Co. Westmeath and the Vegetational History of Its Hinterland. The New Phytologist, vol. 85, no. 2, 1980, pp. 301–319.
- O'Connell, Michael. The Phytosociology and Ecology of Scragh Bog, Co. Westmeath. The New Phytologist, vol. 87, no. 1, 1981, pp. 139–187.
- Hannigan, E., Kelly-Quinn, M. & O'Connor, J.P. 2009. Notable caddisflies (Trichoptera) from Scragh Bog, Co.Westmeath, including Erotesis baltica McLachlan new to Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 33: 76-80.