On Sunday 7th February a day of tree tugging will mark the start of a wider bog restoration and Biodiversity Education project at An Creagan Centre, near Omagh, Co. Tyrone. You can join the Centre staff and the Omagh District Council Biodiversity Officer in pulling out the tree saplings which are invading Creggan Bog. These trees (mostly sitka spruce and scots pine) pull out of the soft peat very easily and with roots intact. As a reward for your hard work, you can take them home and plant them in your garden, where they can become home to birds and beasties for years to come.

The event is part of the World Wetlands Day celebrations going on across the globe. The bogs around the Sperrins are home to a variety of rare and endangered plant and animal species that cannot be found in any other habitat. The introduction of trees can be very damaging to this wetland habitat, drying out the peat and upsetting the balance of the ecosystem. If left to grow, Creggan Bog would eventually become a forest, reducing the bogs effectiveness as a water and carbon store; increasing the risk of  local flooding and releasing carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Bird species of conservation concern, such as snipe and curlew, can breed and feed in the low growing grasses and heather but not in the woodland setting. The Irish Hare also thrives by feeding on bog plants like cotton grass but will not survive in a forest. While native woodland has a valuable role in enhancing our biodiversity, the growth of trees on wetlands can be destructive.

If you would like to take part in this project please call Peter Brown on 028 8076 1112 or email education@ancreagan.com. The event starts at 2.00pm, at An Creagan Centre and is suitable for families and individuals. Wellington boots are essential. Light refreshments will be provided for participants.