lough naman

The once vast peat bogs on the hills to the south of Lower Lough Erne have been extensively planted with conifers. Now only a few small patches remain; each is a significant example of a now rare habitat. Although still recovering from the fires in the mid 1970's Lough Naman bog is relativley undisturbed. The bog forms a dome in a larger expanse of blanket bog. Bog Cotton and sedges grow on mossy hummocks where tiny sundews catch insects on their leaves covered in sticky droplets. The insects are attracted to the boggy pools that lie between the hummocks. Golden plover, dunlin and red grouse used to breed here. Their disappearance from this site and surrounding areas is probably as a result of changing land use. Irish bogs are highly valued internationally as more and more peat is commercially exploited for fuel and horticulture, or drained for agriculture.