Mullenakill NNR

An 8000 year old raised bog within whose waterlogged 9 metre deep core lies the remains of the vegetation which grew here over that time.

Fed only by rainfall, the acidic bog supports a group of highly specialised plants. Most vital are the Sphagnum mosses, which trap the water that helps to preserve plant remains. With nutrients always scarce, tiny red sundews supplement their diets by catching and eating insects. Colour is abundant however, the whites and yellows of the summer Cottongrasses and asphodels giving way to the vivid autumn hues of the Heathers and cranberries, while the mosses splash the surface year long, with resplendent reds and oranges.

Moths and butterflies frequent the bog expanse; the rare Large Heath butterfly is a speciality. Numerous snipe spend the winter on the site, adding to the residents and to the woodcock which frequent the bog margins.

Mullenakill Nature Reserve is a wet, fragile place; your footprint may outlive your visit by years, so please stick to the paths.

Facilities: Car parks, visitor centre and exhibition, toilets, etc. at Peatlands Park. A path system runs along the reserve's eastern margins, access 5 minutes walk from Peatlands Park visitor centre.