EU cites aerial photos as evidence of turf cutting in protected areas

THE European Commission does not accept that measures taken by the Government to protect raised bogs from being cut illegally are effective.

The commission said there is “ongoing concern” about peat extraction on “numerous” protected sites claiming it has aerial photos suggesting raised bogs in the midlands are still being harvested for peat.

This is despite a provisional agreement being reached in recent weeks, hammered out by the Peatlands Council, which brought about an immediate cessation of turf cutting.