Mr Boland
Geography



The harvesting of peat is an extractive industry.
An extractive industry is one that removes non-renewable resources from the earth.
Others??
Mining
Farming
Fishing
Quarrying
Oil-Drilling




Peat is a soil that is made up of partially rotted remains of dead plants which have accumulated on top of each other in waterlogged places for thousands of years.
It consists of moss along with roots, leaves, flowers and grasses. Occasionally the trunks and roots of trees are also present.
Areas where peat accumulates are called
"peatlands" or "bogs".

Milled Sphagnum Peat




About 5% of Ireland consists of Peat
Bogs.
Exploitation of the bogs’ resources was initially slow but with advances in technology it has become commercialised and thus the process has speeded up.
Bord na Móna (founded 1946) is Irelands
Government run peat company.

There are three types of Peatland in
Ireland:
1.
2.
3.
Raised Bogs
Blanket Bogs
Fens or Flat Bogs.


Fen or Flat Bog

Raised Bog

Blanket Bog




They consist of a carpet of peat extending over large areas of land. Their nutrient supply is obtained from rainfall.
They are quite shallow (1.5 metres approx) in comparison to the ‘raised’ bogs.
They are found mainly on mountain slopes and lowland areas of heavy rainfall, especially in the West of Ireland.




Are dome-shaped bogs which have developed in former lake basins in midland counties. Their nutrient supply is obtained from rainfall.
Since they are ‘raised’ they are quite deep
(about 8 metres approx.) and contain large quantities of turf.
They are found mainly in flat or gentlysloping land in the Midlands.

Exploiting the
Bogs
In the past hand tools like the slean were used to harvest the bogs. With modern technology it has become increasingly easy to exploit the bogs.
The four steps involved in getting turf are
1. Preparation
2. Harvesting
3. Transportation
4. Marketing

What does each machine do?
Can you think of a name for each???

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ditcher
Miller
Grader
Harrow
Ridger
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Gather the loose and dried peat into ridges.
Harvests the peat by scraping loose a thin layer of bog.
Used to dry out the loose peat on the surface.
Used to dig drains on the bog.
Used to level the bog

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ditcher- Used to dig drains on the bog.
Miller- Harvests the peat by scraping loose a thin layer of bog.
Grader-Used to level the bog
Harrow-Used to dry out the loose peat on the surface.
Ridger- Gather the loose and dried peat into ridges

Preparing the bogs.
Because bogs have a 95% water content draining bogs is vital. In the past where many bogs were idle, now due to a modern machine called a “ ditcher” bogs are harvested.
After three years the land becomes hard and firm enough for the next stage of preparation.

Why has the ditcher got wide tracks???

A ditcher is a wide tracker machine that does not sink on the soft bog and digs drains to allow water drain off the land.

Preparation
Graders are heavy machines that can now drive on the ground. Graders are used to level the bog and create a flat even surface.
Heavy tractors are then used to lay down railway tracks which are used for transport.

Harvesting
Where a slean was once used to cut peat, now a miller scrapes peat from the surface tears it into pieces.
As this is left to dry a harrow turns over the sods to speed up the process.
A ridger gathers the peat into ridges.

Transporting
Special turf trains are used to carry large quantities to electric power stations

Marketing
Peat is used to generate electricity.
Peat is also used to make peatbriquettes.
Light peat is used as moss peat and used as a soil conditioner.
Sod peat is also used as household fuel.

Marketing

 o
Technology has meant we can expolit more bog and quicker resulting in most of our larger peatlands being used up.
o Should we use up the rest of our bog as in the Netherlands??
OR
Would it be better to preserve what is left of the boglands??





Provide electricity and reduces coal and oil imported.
Exported moss peat is good for the economy.
Bord na mona employs 2000 people.
Coniferous trees are planted on stripped bogs.




Destroys rare plants and animals.
Bogs hold items of spectacular Irish
Archaeology.
Majority of Europe’s bogs are exploited and ruined.
Bogs should be considered a World
Heritage Site to be cherished.