Hans von Sonntag | 20.03. 2025
Above: Karine McMillan and Douglas McMillan take Disselhoff (President Eurosite) to the centre. Photo Hans von Sonntag
With climate pressures rising, projects like this matter. Rewetting the land helps rebuild ecosystems, stabilise water systems, and store carbon. Oxford Bog is a step towards a healthier landscape—for Kiltimagh, Ireland, and beyond.
The Peatland Legacy
Across Ireland, drained and degraded bogs release carbon, damage water systems, and fragment landscapes. Decades of peat-cutting have left scars that continue to erode the land and the climate.
In Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, Oxford Bog is getting a second chance. Green Restoration Ireland (GRI) has teamed up with the community to rewet and restore the site, proving that even small-scale projects can make a difference.
Oxford Bog Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Photo Hans von Sonntag
A Community-Led Restoration
Oxford Bog covers 33 hectares, but much of it has been cut away for fuel. Only three hectares of intact peatland remain, while 10 hectares need urgent restoration. The project relies on local involvement. The Grogan family, which owns the bog, supports restoring it as a community asset rather than letting it degrade further.
Resident Gary Smyth, founder of Kiltimagh Emigrant Park (KEP), helped bring the community on board. His park already showcases traditional Irish practices like stone wall building, willow weaving, and ecological restoration through tree planting and wetland creation. The bog restoration will link KEP, the Pollagh River (a protected site under the River Moy SAC), and Oxford Bog, creating a connected landscape of nature and heritage.
Volunteers, including St. Louis Community School pupils, will hand-block drains and gain hands-on experience in peatland restoration.
The GRI Approach: Conservation with a Business Model
Eurosite Member Green Restoration Ireland (GRI) is a worker-owned cooperative that keeps restoration expertise within the community rather than outsourcing it. Instead of relying solely on grants, GRI develops land-use models that economically sustain restored peatlands. Their work includes wetland farming (paludiculture) and biodiversity-focused land management, ensuring that restored peatlands remain valuable resources for local communities.
For Oxford Bog, GRI is leading the technical and restoration work, including:
- Surveying the site (ecology, peat depth, topography)
- Developing a restoration plan
- Supervising digger work and drain-blocking
- Engaging local students in hands-on conservation
- Designing boardwalks and educational signage
- Creating a long-term management plan
Who’s Funding It?
A €25,000 anonymous donation funds the project, managed through Community Foundation Ireland alongside Kiltimagh Emigrant Park and GRI.
The restoration is set to be completed by the end of 2025.
Why Restore Oxford Bog?
Dr Douglas McMillan of GRI explains: “We need to restore over 1 million hectares in Ireland. Many of these cutover bogs are left with their original drains, which continue to degrade peat soils, contributing to air and water pollution. This community-focused restoration will set a precedent for how it can and should be done.”
This is how a healthy bog should look. Photo Hans von Sonntag
A Model for the Future
Oxford Bog proves that small, local projects can contribute to large-scale ecological recovery. It combines scientific expertise, landowner cooperation, and community action to tackle one of Ireland’s most pressing environmental issues.