Landscape

 
Slieve Bloom
Courtesy of Arnold Horner 2006.
 

Bog Deal

In the foreground of the picture is bog deal. These are the stumps of pine trees found deep within peat and would once have lived on the bog when its surface was drier, forming a forest of Scots Pine. In the background of the picture is a cut over bog, with a pool and shrubby vegetation. Bogs are very important habitats, and very few intact bogs now remain in Ireland. Bogs can provide us with a glimpse into the vegetation and climate of the past. However, once the climate began to get wetter, pine seeds could not germinate on the wetter bog and the roots of existing trees drowned as the bog began to grow again. These trees stumps still exist in the bog because the low oxygen conditions in peat prevent decay.

Michael Viney
Bog Deal
Michael Viney

Bog Deal

In the foreground of the picture is bog deal. These are the stumps of pine trees found deep within peat and would once have lived on the bog when its surface was drier, forming a forest of Scots Pine. In the background of the picture is a cut over bog, with a pool and shrubby vegetation. Bogs are very important habitats, and very few intact bogs now remain in Ireland. Bogs can provide us with a glimpse into the vegetation and climate of the past. However, once the climate began to get wetter, pine seeds could not germinate on the wetter bog and the roots of existing trees drowned as the bog began to grow again. These trees stumps still exist in the bog because the low oxygen conditions in peat prevent decay.

Michael Viney
Enlarge image
 

Verge

Grassland verges now act as important wildlife corridors. They are rarely fertilised, mown occasionally, and there is little or no grazing or fertiliser application. Species found in verges vary depending on the environmental factors and soil type of the verge, in addition to management regime. In this image there may be a range of grasses such as Creeping bents (Agrostis spp.) and Meadow grasses (Poa spp.). In addition there may be a range of coarser grasses such as Cock foot (Dactylis glomerata) and False Oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius). There may be some ivy and brambles present, which act as a habitat for insects and a great source of food and shelter for many birds.

With kind permission of the Irish Wildlife Trust
Verge
With kind permission of the Irish Wildlife Trust

Verge

Grassland verges now act as important wildlife corridors. They are rarely fertilised, mown occasionally, and there is little or no grazing or fertiliser application. Species found in verges vary depending on the environmental factors and soil type of the verge, in addition to management regime. In this image there may be a range of grasses such as Creeping bents (Agrostis spp.) and Meadow grasses (Poa spp.). In addition there may be a range of coarser grasses such as Cock foot (Dactylis glomerata) and False Oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius). There may be some ivy and brambles present, which act as a habitat for insects and a great source of food and shelter for many birds.

With kind permission of the Irish Wildlife Trust
Enlarge image

previousPrevious - The Itten Colour Wheel
Next - Portraitsnext