The good weather in June meant that we were able to save the turf in record time, and get it home before the weather broke. It is a very labour intensive operation, and each sod will have been handled at least three times before it's safely in the shed.
The area of bog where we get our turf is not in an SAC, and has been cut for home consumption for generations.
All rowed up, ready for loading onto the trailer.
As the saying goes, turf warms you more than once!
Taking a well earned break
Bog Cotton growing wild in its natural habitat.
I grew up on the edge of the Bog of Allen, when it was unspoiled bog as far as the eye could see. Now it has all been drained and is all gone, except for those areas that are still in the hands of 'non-commercial turf cutters'. The rest having been compulsorly purchased by the State and used, as our only natural resource, to fuel our Power Stations!
The Minister for Environment John Gormley confirmed the ending of a ten-year derogation from an EU ban on non-commercial turf-cutting in certain Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
Thirty-two raised bogs, where flora and vegetation continue to grow, are immediately affected with a further 24 next year and 75 heritage areas in 2013.
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