This is one of those projects that has truly evolved over time, and is now very much a biodiversity project as well as one that has create a beautiful almost sculptural piece in the village.
We were fortunate to receive a donation of used barrels from Tullamore Dew Distillery (with huge thanks) and one of our committee was keen to make someone really significant. The idea of a train came out of many discussions about the cessation of peat harvesting and memories of watching bog trains trundle back and forth on local bogs. And so the bog train was born.
Our committee member and CES workers really collaborated on this project, and put an enormous amount of time and effort into creating something really unique, as well as ensuring it would be solid and safe. A local wood turner also contributed greatly to this project, creating the wheels and the funnel of the train. Once it was completed and stained the next thing was to decide how we were going to plant it.
As it was a bog train it felt only right that one carraige should represent plants growing on our local bogs such as local heather and gorse and a beautiful orchid, kindly donated by someone in our community. We then decided to fill the rest of the train with pollinator friendly perennial plants such as Geranium Rozanne as well as crocus bulbs for spring colour.
As mentioned this project was ever evolving and when we talked about having a name plant on the train we decided that we could go one step further, each carriage on the train is named for a bird or mammal that we know are often found on the bog but whose numbers are in decline, such as lapwing and snipe. This was done to highlight the importance of the bog habitat for their preservation and growth.
And there you have it, the project is complete. We are delighted with how it has been received and with all it represents. Bogs are and will always be culturally such an important part of our community and although their uses are evolving we hope people will continue to interact with them and appreciate their beauty. Thank you to Tullamore Dew, Dominic Trimble and our CES Workers for their work and contributions to this project.