Peatlands Park

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Peatlands Park is a 266 hectares area established in 1990 and placed under the safeguard of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. [1] It is located in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, and has been designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). [2] Peatlands Park is home to a particularly rich sample of the fauna and flora found in peat bogs, and proposes 16 km (10 mi) of paths to its visitors. [3]

The park holds two natural reserves predating the park itself, Annagarriff (77 ha) and Mullenakill (22ha), established in 1980. [4] Of the two, Annagarriff is thought to be home to the only colony of Scottish wood ants in Ireland. [5]

It also holds a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway established in 1901 and displays an outdoor turf-cutting site. [6] [7] The park is also used as a venue for bog snorkelling. [8] [9]

Peatlands Park's main pond in the winter with the bogland beyond the trees. The Main Pond in Winter, Peatlands Park - geograph.org.uk - 691719.jpg
Peatlands Park's main pond in the winter with the bogland beyond the trees.

References

  1. ↑ "Peatlands". Peatlands NI. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  2. ↑ "Peatlands Park ASSI". NI Environment Agency. Retrieved 14 August 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. ↑ "Head to Peatlands Park for Perfect Day Out". NI Environment Agency. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. ↑ "Peatlands Park". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  5. ↑ "Formica aquilonia – Scottish Wood Ant". Habitas - NI Priority Species. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  6. ↑ "Small industrial railways". Armagh County Museum. Archived from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "The Railway" (PDF). NI Environment Agency. Retrieved 14 August 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Peatlands Park bog snorkelling championship". BBC News. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Bog snorkellers take the plunge". belfasttelegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 16 March 2021.

54°29′06″N6°36′32″W / 54.485°N 6.609°W / 54.485; -6.609

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