Скачать или смотреть Community Champion Awards 2023: Abbeyleix Bog Project

The People First Credit Union Community Champions Award was introduced to recognize and support the outstanding efforts of local volunteers within People First Credit Union's common bond area of Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Athy and Stradbally. The selection process involved a rigorous evaluation of the nominees, with Portlaoise Tidy Towns emerging as the distinguished winner among three finalists, which also included Dunamaise Beekeepers and Abbeyleix Bog Project. We were delighted to award the runners up with €2,000 each towards their project.

Abbeyleix Bog Project is a community led conservation project. The Abbeyleix Bog Project is considered one of the leading conservation projects in the Country. Abbeyleix Bog encompasses an area of almost 500 acres of diverse habitats including degraded (but recovering) raised bog, lagg, cutaway, wet carr woodland and meadows.
Turf was harvested from the site through the mid-20th century. Today, the site's former railway line provides an elevated walking trail and connects to a boardwalk and bog bridge built by Abbeyleix Bog Project volunteers.
By restoring degraded peatlands, the Abbeyleix Bog Project has not only contributed to reducing carbon emissions – a boon for Ireland’s climate change mitigation efforts – but has also repaired key wetland habitats, which has major benefits for the nation’s biodiversity.
In addition, the project has provided delightful recreation and education spaces, attracting walkers, students, researchers and nature lovers.