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Curran Bog


Curran Bog is privately owned and is not open to public access

Curran Bog is an active raised bog in the floodplain of the Moyola River, approximately 3 miles north west of Magherafelt in Northern Ireland. Curran Bog SAC is an important site for insects: the acid pools support species which thrive in base-poor environments, including seven species of dragonfly, eight varieties of water bug, and 23 types of water beetle.

There has been extensive historic cutting of peat at this site, and it is estimated that less than 15% of the original bog remains intact; the cut peat face can be up to 3m in some places. However, on a more positive point, the old cuttings are supporting regenerating bog vegetation and with careful management it is hoped that the degraded parts of the bog can be restored.

Curran Bog

CANN Works

Over the lifespan of the project, the CANN team will be working on producing a Conservation Action Plan for Curran Bog SAC. As part of producing this plan detailed surveys are underway to better understand the very complex hydrology of the site. On the ground conservation actions to be completed include the management of invasive species, and fencing to manage access.

Species

The Great sundew is one of nearly 200 species of Sundew which can be found worldwide. Sundews are a carnivorous plant, trapping insects in the sticky dew found on the end of the red “hairs” on the sundews leaves, and digesting the insect for energy and nutrients to grow and survive. The Great sundew is common in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and is very similar to other locally found sundews such as the Round leaved sundew and the Oblong leaved sundew. The Great sundew grows in wet acid soils with few nutrients, which explains why it is often found among the Sphagnum mosses bordering bog pools and in wet heath habitats. Indeed, it is the very nutrient poor environment in which they grow which is the reason that they are carnivorous at all, as they cannot gain enough nutrients from the soil alone.
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