Peatlands Park

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.

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.

External links

• "Churchill - Home of the Verners". Craigavon Historical Society. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
• "Peatlands Park - Dungannon". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 16 March 2021.

54.485°N 6.609°W / 54.485; -6.609