Moss Go!

CRAIG McCOY, TIM BELMONT (ha!) AND VICKY BUSTARD HARD AT WORK IN THE RAISED BOG AT THE ARGORY, REMOVING INVASIVE SCRUB FROM THE MOSSES

I AM FEATURED IN THE ULSTER GAZETTE OF THE 9TH FEBRUARY, 2012. I SPENT THE DAY AT THE ARGORY,  COUNTY ARMAGH, WITH NATIONAL TRUST FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES

"It was a case of conservation in action at The Argory recently, as a 50-stong team of staff and volunteers came together to remove invasive species from The Argory mosses.

This was the first step in a restoration project that would help protect one of the few remaining lowland raised bog habitats in National Trust ownership.

The project - which will officially start later this month - would not have been possible without support from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency Challenge Fund.

NIEA staff were also present on the day to help remove invasives and to protect the mosses' native wildlife and conserve the area that was once used to provide peat which fuelled The Argory house since the 1800s.

The Argory mosses comprise 10 hectares of relatively intact bog and 7 hectares of cut-over bog. The original raised bog would have occupied a much wider footprint than present day, as past drainage and peat cutting has reduced its area considerably.

Since its acquisition in 1979, invasive scrub has been intermittently removed, but little other active management has taken place. The mosses are drying out and this is the initial step in a longer term restoration project.

The essential funding will allow for initial hydrological and topographical surveys of the mosses to gain important information to help develop a long-term restoration project to prevent the mosses from further drying out.

The team spent the day removing invasive scrub, including rhododendron, pine and birch from the bog. Many of the young Scots pines which were carefully removed will be planted at other National Trust sites across Northern Ireland [we've planted them already at Orlock-Portavo in County Down].

It is essential that the scrub is removed from the bog, as their growth contributes to the drying out process.

The bog needs to remain wet to provide the right habitat conditions for wet loving bog species, such as sphagnum moss, sun-dew, cranberry and the myriad of other bog plants and insects to flourish.

The Argory Mosses project is one of over 40 across Northern Ireland which have received funding from the NIEA Challenge Fund to carry out work to benefit Northern Ireland's people and wildlife.

The NI Environment Minister, Alex Attwood MLA, said:

"This is a fantastic programme which challenged local environmental charities to devise and deliver projects on a very short time-scale. I am delighted with the level of interest and the quality of the proposals. It is good to be able to congratulate the groups on meeting the challenge set by my Environment Agency. I look forward to seeing the results of all of these exciting local environmental projects."

Ian Greenaway, Head Warden of the National Trust Mid-Ulster property group, commented:

"We are delighted to be part of the Challenge Fund, which will enable us to undertake the steps to help protect and enhance the Argory Mosses, to maximise its habitat and wildlife and to make part of the area more accessible to visitors in the future."

Although not achievable within the first phase of the project, in the longer-term the National Trust hopes that this project will provide invaluable knowledge through which they can inform and educate visitors on the benefits to the environment through improved access to the Argory Mosses."