Making the need to respond to climate change all the more compelling.
Mountaineering Ireland's Blanket Bog Buddies can have the satisfaction that they are helping Wicklow Mountains National Park to tackle the vast swathes of damaged peatlands. We had volunteers out on 40 Thursdays during the year, Some people could just do two or three days, but some individuals made 30 days - a phenomenal personal and environmental commitment.
The volunteers work on habitat restoration, mostly installing sediment traps, that help reduce the loss of peat, a precious carbon store, from eroded areas of the Wicklow Mountains. The sediment traps are mainly wooden dams, but depending on location and materials available, some coir rolls have been used, as well as sheep's wool and stone.
In the winter months, the volunteers have helped with the planting of native trees to improve habitat, biodiversity and soil stability, mainly in stream gullies in the northern end of the national park.
Hugh McLindon, Volunteer Coordinator with Wicklow Mountains National Park, is very grateful for the help provided by the Mountaineering Ireland volunteers.
"In 2024 Mountaineering Ireland's eco heroes planted hundreds of trees and installed over 1,000 sediment traps at remote and challenging mountainsides. At the end of the day volunteers are cold, dirty, wet and tired...why do they do it? The sense of fulfilment, camaraderie, a positive legacy, replacing a negative ecological cycle with a positive one, and the opportunity to give something back to these precious habitats that provide us with so much pleasure. Wicklow Mountains National Park is absolutely delighted to continue this partnership with Mountaineering Ireland and to evolve the volunteer programme, to encourage more participation and to protect ever more habitats and species. Well done everyone!"
If you'd like to join the Blanket Bog Buddies, and you're in a position to give up a few Thursdays this year, please email helen@mountaineering.ie
Photo: Blanket Bog Buddies Robbie, Paul and John having fun installing coir rolls on Barnacullian on one of those damp and dirty days!