PRESS
RELEASE 21 July 2013
INTERNATIONAL
BOG DAY 28 JULY
Events
at Malham Tarn, Settle, North Yorkshire.
28 July
is International Bog Day
“Save British bogs – and visit one on
International Bog Day- 28 July 2013”
says bog-plant
botanist Dr Judith Allinson.
Malham
Tarn in North Yorkshire has internationally important wetlands including the
Bog and Fen, and a series of events are being organised for the public over 27
-28 July ...
Judith,
who will be leading guided walks at Malham Tarn Bog and Fen on 27-28 July says: “I
recommend Malham Tarn Open Days (27-28 July). This is an opportunity to visit
Malham Tarn Field Centre and grounds which are not normally open to the public,
and to see stalls set up by many community organisations. The walks and
workshops are a chance to learn why Malham Tarn Bog and Fen are so special, and
to be shown the names of some of the plants and animals. Children welcome.”
The
events are being organised by Malham Tarn Field Centre (Sat and Sun), the
National Trust (Sun), Craven Conservation Group and the Yorkshire Naturalists
Union Fresh-Water Group (various times)
1. What
is a bog?
2. Why are
bogs important?
3. Why
have peat bogs been lost?
4. Why is
Malham Tarn Fen and Bog so important?
5.
Activities at Malham Tarn 27-28 July
6. Some
International Bog Day events in different countries.
7.
Wildlife examples for Malham Tarn Bog and Fen
8.
Settle Age UK and Bog plant display at St John's Methodist Church Hall, Settle
Peat Bogs are important fascinating vital
habitats.
1. What is a peat bog?
As
organic material accumulates in a wetland area, the organic material becomes
more acid. Sphagnum (Bog-moss) starts to grow. This is too acid for decomposition
to occur, so the Sphagnum piles up and up and forms peat. The peat may be
several metres deep. If the bog forms above water it may be a quaking bog.
2. Why are bogs important?
Peat
bogs are important for carbon storage (to avoid global warming), for water
storage (to avoid flooding and droughts) and for wildlife. Peat bogs take
thousands of year to form. Pollen preserved in peat tells us about past
vegetation. Archaeological remains have been found in peat.
3. Why have peat bogs been lost?
Many of
Britain’s Wetlands and Peat bogs have been lost by drainage for agriculture or
sheep grazing. If the water table is
lowered in the surrounding area, or if birch trees become established, or
tracks and foundations are built on pristine bogs for wind turbines, the bog can dry out. Carbon dioxide is then
emitted rather than being absorbed.
Many of
Britain’s Wetlands and Peat bogs have been lost by drainage for agriculture or
sheep grazing. If the water table is
lowered in the surrounding area, or if birch trees become established the bog
can dry out. Bogs in Britain and Ireland are lost because the peat is used for
garden compost and for fuel (including for power stations). There is a conflict
of interests.
4. Why is Malham Tarn Bog and Fen so special.
The bog is acid. Round the edge of Malham Tarn bog there are limestone springs, and limestone grassland. There is a gradation of vegetation types from the acid to the limestone which has been lost in most other bogs in England. There are many special rare plants and insects here. The Fen and Bog are part of a National Nature Reserve, and a Ramsar Site (Wetland Site of International Importance).
The bog is acid. Round the edge of Malham Tarn bog there are limestone springs, and limestone grassland. There is a gradation of vegetation types from the acid to the limestone which has been lost in most other bogs in England. There are many special rare plants and insects here. The Fen and Bog are part of a National Nature Reserve, and a Ramsar Site (Wetland Site of International Importance).
5.
Activities at Malham Tarn 27-28 July
Guided walks for plants (from Mosses to
Sedges, Ferns to Flowers) will be led by
Judith Allinson of Craven Conservation
Group at 11.15 am both days and at a
later time during the day.(01729 822138 to book) . Freshwater investigations (pond
dipping and workshops looking at the creatures in the lab under microscopes) will
be led by Sharon and Peter Flint (of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union) on the
Saturday at 1pm. This is part of the Tarntastic Open Days at Malham Tarn Field
Centre, held to celebrate 70 years of activity of the Field Studies Council (F.S.C.)
.(The F.S.C. runs 17 Field Centres .. of
which Malham Tarn was one of the first four to start. The F.S.C. has leased the
centre from the National Trust since 1947, and runs plant, animal, ecology, geography,
art and other creative courses for schools, universities and the public)
The
National Trust which owns the Malham Tarn Estate will be running family events
on Sunday 28th from 11am to 3pm including pond dipping, craft
activities and bird boxes. (01729 830416) Malham Tarn Field Centre will be running some
activities for children (01729 830331)
6.
Other events for International Bog Day include:
The Northern Ireland Bog Snorkelling
Championships at Peatlands Park
... Events in Chicago and Illinois and British Columbia.
7. Wild life on bogs and Wetlands at Malham Tarn
Examples
of birds at or near Malham Wetlands: include: Curlew, snipe, redshank, golden
plover, meadow pipit; Insects: Great diving-beetles,
dragonflies, damselflies and caddis-flies. Other animals: lizards, water-shrews.
Plants: Carnivorous plants such as sundew, butterwort and bladderwort; Edible fruit:
bilberry, cowberry, cloudberry, cranberry; Beautiful flowers: bog asphodel, bog rosemary,
cross-leaved heath; Mosses: In Britain there are 34 different species of
Sphagnum (Bog-moss) of which half can be found at Malham Tarn. Amazing!.
8. As a precursor to International Bog
Day Judith gave a workshop at St John's Methodist Church Hall, Settle to Settle
Age UK, on Friday 19th July and with the help of the participants
prepared a wall display which hall participants can enjoy..
Judith
Allinson says
"Do come to Malham Tarn - or visit a
bog near you. Find out more about bogs from your local Natural History Society
and avoid using peat-based garden compost."
ENDS
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