"Sell raffle tickets and save bogs." That’s the urgent appeal of the Irish
Peatland Conservation Council this summer.
IPCC has commenced a major restoration project on Lodge Bog in Co. Kildare. Work is now well underway which will result in 1.5km of drains on the bog surface being blocked. The higher water table is needed to keep the bog alive.
However €10,000 or 25% of the estimated budget of €44,600 is still needed. "Selling raffle tickets to your family, friends, colleagues or in your community will help us to reach our funding target and bring this project to completion" says Oscar Duggan of IPCC.
Buying a ticket puts you in with a chance of winning a weekend break at the
Tullamore Court Hotel; an afternoon demonstration including lunch at Ballymaloe Cookery School; ladies and gents fleece jackets from Patagonia;
family visitor passes to Fota Wildlife Park or to any of the heritage sites
around the country managed by the Office of Public Works. Barbecues,
birdfeeders and books are also among the prizes for the lucky winners. In
addition, there is a special draw for ticket sellers.
Tickets for the raffle cost €3 each or a sheet of 12 tickets for €30 and each ticket entitles the bearer to a free visit to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre in Lullymore, Co. Kildare – just a stone’s throw from Lodge Bog itself, which is accessible by a specially constructed visitor boardwalk. Normal admission to the centre is €5.
You can also sell raffle tickets by calling IPCC on 045 860133 or phone to
donate to the Lodge Bog Habitat Restoration project on the same telephone
number.
The Save the Bog Raffle is being sponsored by Irish and other businesses. Ballymaloe Cookery School, CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd, Fota Wildlife Park, Office of Public Works, Patagonia Tullamore Court Hotel and Walker Books Ltd are all donating prizes while printing and other costs are being sponsored by
Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland and EirEnergy.
"We are very grateful to all our sponsors for helping us to get things off on the right footing. We hope that the public will respond to this generosity by selling as many raffle tickets as possible over the summer months. The restoration of Lodge Bog will depend on whether we can keep the momentum going" says Oscar Duggan.
For further information about the Save the Bogs Raffle and other ways you
can support the Lodge Bog Habitat Restoration Project please contact Oscar
Duggan on 045 860133.
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a non-governmental organisation that was formed in 1982 to ensure the conservation of a representative sample of Irish bogs. Our activities include education and publicity, promoting environmental awareness, provision of information and encouraging the protection and conservation of our national heritage for the common good. We own and manage a number of peatlands for conservation and we run the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, which is open to visitors and school groups.
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a company limited by guarantee,
with charitable status. www.ipcc.ie
The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is open Monday to Friday all year round
excluding Public Holidays. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm. Special weekend
open days are organised for the last Sundays of May, July and November.
Details of these and other upcoming events can be found on the IPCC website.
Admission to the centre is €5 per adult. Admission to the shop is free. Guided tours for groups are available if arranged in advance by contacting IPCC on 045 860133.