Clara Bog and Boardwalk

FEATURE

CLARA BOG AND BOARDWALK Text by Rebecca Dobson ere at Clara, County Offaly our award-winning Clara Bog Visitor HCentre offers visitors a fascinating insight into the bog.

The interactive interpretive area covers themes such as: the development of peatlands; biodiversity of raised bogs; the history and archaeology associated with raised bogs; and some unique facts about Clara Bog. The multi-purpose Audio Visual room can accommodate groups of 50 and is available for meetings, talks, workshops and courses to local/environmental groups. The Visitor Centre offers walks, talks, workshops and other educational activities for adults and children.

Clara Bog Nature Reserve is 464 hectares of raised bog with evident lag and soak systems. The nature reserve is home to many protected wildlife species. The installation of a 1km-looped timber boardwalk walk with interpretive panels at Clara Bog has provided for local recreation and offers further potential to the tourism market. At Clara Bog Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve we endeavour to ensure that the tourism sector can play an important role in building awareness and appreciation of Ireland’s natural heritage.

The site is protected under a number of national and international designations including National Nature Reserve, a Special Area of Conservation, Ramsar Wetland Site, Natura 2000 site, and Natural Heritage Area. Clara Bog is a naturally wet environment with many concealed dangers such as deep pools and quaking surfaces,

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for this reason we recommend that visitors stay to the viewing point of the boardwalk.

There are many points of interest for those with a keen eye.

Depending on the time of year visitors can see the ‘insecteating’ round leafed and oblong leafed sundew, and butterwort from several points of the Boardwalk. Many visitors have seen Ireland’s only native land reptile – the viviparous lizard, sunning itself on the Boardwalk. Newts, dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, caterpillars, and frogs all make regular appearances. Listen carefully and you will hear the curlew, snipe, stonechat, willow warbler, meadow pipet and skylark.

Some of these birds are seen at regular intervals as you walk along the Boardwalk. The site is also a host to Birds of Prey including Kestrel and Merlin.

Peatlands are considered to be one of the most important ecosystems of the world. This is because of their key value for biodiversity, the role they play in carbon sequestration – thus ensuring regulation of our climate, water filtration and supply and important support for human welfare. Nature as a source of well-being is now generating an economic value. Outdoor experiences in the open landscape are increasingly used and have provided inspiration throughout history for poets, painters, artists. Biodiversity Guidelines for the tourism sector were produced as part of the ‘Notice Nature’ campaign. In past

years, the number of tourists interested in outdoor activities and eco-tourism has increased. As a result of additional tourism and recreational use, peatlands are likely to be viewed as more valuable assets to local communities.

Education Officers at Clara Bog Visitor Centre work closely with the local community, County Council and Mid Ireland Tourism to raise public awareness and appreciation of the unique habitat that is Clara Bog Nature Reserve.

BIBLIOGRAPHY The International Ecotouism Society. Factsheet – Global Ecotourism, www.ecotourism.org Handbook – Ecotourism for Ireland, www.failteireland.ie Actions For Biodiversity 2011-2016. Ireland’s National Biodiversity Plan. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan. Draft For Consultation 17th January 2014. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

National Peatlands Strategy. Draft. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. www.heritageireland.ie

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