Residents of one of Waterford's smallest villages have launched a major fund-raising drive to purchase and conserve a unique area of bogland.
Fenor Bog, 32 acres of unspoilt fen located three miles from Tramore, is a National Heritage Area with over 90 recorded species of wild plant, bird, animal and insect.
But residents of Fenor village, anxious to protect such a valuable resource, knew they had no chance of raising the £25,000 purchase price of the bog themselves.
"We were tearing our hair out to see where we could get the money from," says Martin Middleton, a member of the Moin Fhionnurach [Bog of Fenor] Development Association (MFDA), a voluntary community group.
"Then somebody saw a brochure and we got in touch with the Irish Peat-land Conservation Council. It was the best move we could have made," he said.
The IPCC, a national charity devoted to bog-land conservation projects, enthusiastically came on board and has committed £15,000 to the project through a fund-raising campaign among members.
"Fenor Bog is one of only 13 peat-lands remaining in Waterford," says the IPCC's chairman, Dr Peter Foss. "The purchase of the bog will help protect a habitat type that is fast disappearing in Ireland."
MFDA, which operates under the umbrella of DFBA (Dunhill, Fenor, Boatstrand, Annestown) Community Enterprises Ltd, says the bog is "unique in that it is the only remaining bog of its kind in the south east of Ireland, rich in flora and fauna".
When the sale goes through the bog will be jointly owned by the IPCC and the DFBA Community Enterprises and made accessible for study, research, education, conservation and recreational purposes.
The IPCC has, to date, raised almost £11,000, but local residents have only just launched their campaign to secure £10,000. The sale has a March 31st deadline, but the development association intends to make up any shortfall with a bank loan.
Anyone who wishes to contribute to the purchase of the bog can send donations to the secretary/ treasurer of the Moin Fhionnurach Development Association, Ms Rita Byrne, at Ballyscanlon, Fenor, Co Waterford.