Boghill Centre Information   

On this page you will find useful information about things related to the Boghill Centre projects or definitions of terms that have been used throughout the website.
We hope you find this informative, and please get in touch if you have any suggestions of comments we'd love to hear from you!

Click here for quick links to specific topics:

Glossary      Energy Tips    Energy Facts    Irish Plants    Irish Wildlife    Climate Change    Carbon offset

 

Glossary of Definitions:

Biodiversity:
The term ‘biodiversity’ is a contraction of ‘biological’ and ‘diversity’.
Biodiversity encompasses all living things – humans, animals, plants, birds, fish and the habitats in which they live. Globally, biodiversity is being lost due to increasing development, climate change, invasive alien species and the international trade in endangered species.

Barfuss Walk (Barefoot walk)
An idea imported from Germany where you stimulate your feet and indeed the whole body by walking barefoot along a path of different natural textures – grass, wood, water, mud, stone, brick, logs, planks, pebbles etc.  Walking barefoot has many positive medical benefits, including: stimulating the cardiovascular system, regulating blood pressure, improving circulation, strengthening the body’s immune system, helping relaxation, and promoting well being. Barefoot walking is often regarded as ‘do it yourself’ reflexology.

Carbon footprint:
The amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) you use is called your ‘carbon footprint’. There are various easy ways to reduce this, and in today's credit crunch situation many of these actions can also save you money! This is because in general they involve reducing the amount of energy you consume, and with rising energy prices this is simply common sense! 

Carnivores:
Species that consume animal protein.

Climate Change:
Climate is the prevailing weather conditions of a region over a year, averaged over several years. Climate change involves the build up of gases in the atmosphere that trap the suns heat causing global changes in weather patterns.

Cob building:
Cob is an ancient building material, that has possibly been used for construction since prehistoric times across the globe. Traditionally, cob is made by mixing the clay-based subsoil with straw and water. The earthen mixture is then ladled onto a stone foundation in courses and trodden onto the wall by workers in a process known as cobbing.
The walls are generally about 24 inches thick, providing excellent thermal mass which is easy to keep warm in winter and cool in summer. The material has a long life span even in rainy climates, provided a tall foundation and large roof overhang are present. There has been a resurgence of interest in these and other sustainable building methods in recent years.

Coniferous:
Trees and shrubs that do not shed their leaves. i.e. pine.

Conservation:
The protection and management of a cause (such as biodiversity) in a specific area.

Cordwood shelter:
A natural building method in which "cordwood" or short lengths pieces of debarked tree are laid up crosswise with masonry or cob mixtures to build a wall. Walls typically range between 12 and 24 inches thick.
Cordwood buildings are attractive for their visual appeal, maximization of interior space (with a rounded plan), economy of resources, and ease of construction. Wood usually accounts for about 40- 60% of the wall system, and is an economical and sustainable use for log ends or fallen trees.

Deciduous:
Trees and shrubs that shed their leaves annually in the autumn. i.e. oak.

Ecology:
Ecology / ecological science is the study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how this is affected by interactions between the organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem:
This brings together two words – ecological and system. It refers to all biotic (where life is present) and abiotic components (not associated with living organisms - sunlight, temperature and precipitation.) Specifically looking at the interactions of these components in a pre-defined area. 

Eco-Tourism:
Tourism involving travel to areas of natural or ecological interest, typically under the guidance of a naturalist, for the purpose of observing wildlife and learning about the environment.

Endangered Species:
A population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct because it either has low numbers or is threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters.

Evolution:
The change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift. Charles Darwin first posed this scientific theory in 1809 - 200 years ago this year (2009)!

Fauna:
Animals

Flora:
Plants 

Gene:
A hereditary unit that, in part, directs the physical development and behaviour of an organism. (Hereditary means the transfer of behavioral and physical characteristics from parent to offspring, normally through genetic material). 

Habitat:
The place where a particular species lives and grows.

Herbivores:
Species that consume vegetation. 

Humus:
The dark organic material in soils, produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter.

Invasive Species:
An invasive species is one that is introduced to an area where it does not naturally occur and is able to establish a population without human, or other, intervention. Invasive species in Ireland include -
Giant Hogweed
Pineapple Weed
Rhododendron
Lagarosiphon Major

Invertebrate:
An animal without a backbone composed of vertebrae. i.e. insects, roundworms, earthworms, arachnids, crustaceans, etc.

Micro-organisms:
Organisms so small (i.e. bacteria, viruses) that they can only be seen through a microscope.

Monoculture:
Where one species is in abundance in an area, usually to the detriment of all others.

Natural Selection:
The process through which organisms with traits favourable for continued existence survive and reproduce. This is the process through which evolution occurs over long periods of time.

Omnivores:
Omnivores are grazing species that do not have specific omnivorous or herbivorous tendencies. They eat most things - meat or vegetable matter.

Organism:
This is a system of complex and interacting organs functioning as a stable whole.

Oxidation:
Oxidation is the combination of a substance with oxygen. When this occurs a chemical reaction happens where the atoms in one element loose electrons (charged particles). The absorption of one or more oxygen ions by a mineral substance is one of the major types of chemical weathering. Oxidation in the soil occurs when minerals take up some of the oxygen dissolved in the soil moisture.

Photosynthesis:
Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae and bacteria. This process uses energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into fuel/food (like sugars) that can be used by the organism.

Species:
This term refers to all the individual organisms of a natural population which are able to interbreed, and that share similar appearances, characteristics and genetics due to having recent common ancestors.

Species Diversity:
The variability amongst species in an ecosystem.

Sustainable Development:
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Topography:
The surface features of a geographical area, including landforms, water bodies and other natural and manmade features.
 

 

Energy saving, money saving tips:

Under Construction

Some interesting energy facts:

Air Travel accounts for less than 5% of carbon dioxide emissions.

Our Homes account for nearer 25% of emissions!

This table shows how much energy wastage and carbon dioxide emissions
you could reduce in your own home.....

Left on Standby	Energy Wastage	Tonnes of Co2
Stereos	£290m	1.6m
VCRs	£175m	960,000
TVs	£88m	480,000
Games Consoles	£70m	390,000
Mobile phone Chargers left on charge	£47m	250,000
Computer Monitors	£41m	220,000
DVD players	£19m	100,000
Set top boxes	£11m	60,000

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Indigenous Irish Plantlife:

Under Construction

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Indiginous Irish Wildlife:

Under Construction

 

Climate change:

Carbon dioxide and climate change:
We use fossil fuels every day, either directly by switching on a light or driving to work, or indirectly when we purchase something that has been manufactured or transported using fossil fuels. Burning these fossil fuels to create energy releases Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. CO₂ is a greenhouse gas, this means that it traps heat in our atmosphere. Water vapour and methane do the same, and farm livestock significantly contributes to methane levels. Consequently increases in these gasses cause our climate to heat up. If we all take whatever steps we can, small or large, to reduce our personal CO₂ emissions then we will hopefully be able to slow the rate of climate change.

Carbon offsetting with trees:

The chemical process of how trees absorb Carbon Dioxide:

Trees take in carbon dioxide (CO₂) through photosynthesis converting it, with water and other nutrients, into molecular dioxygen (O₂) and plant organic matter, such as carbohydrates (e.g., cellulose).
Carbon is released as CO₂ if a tree burns or decays, but as long as the forest is able to grow back at the same rate as its biomass is lost due to oxidation of organic carbon, the net result is carbon neutral.

Trees are vital for so many things…

Biological benefits:

They produce oxygen Absorb carbon dioxide Filter and purify the air Protect the soil by binding it together Prevent flooding Store and recycle nutrients Tree roots filter water and often aid infiltration of water in to the land Host all sorts of biodiversity.

Other benefits:

• They are an important part of Ireland’s rich natural heritage,
• They can provide shelter and privacy for our homes,
• Significantly raise property values,
• Trees are beautiful! They often flower in spring, and turn golden in autumn, adding character, colour and texture to both urban and rural landscapes.

    So why plant native trees?

• They help to maintain local landscape heritage and conservation value.
• Support a wider range of native plants and animals.
• Are more likely to survive than most introduced species – reducing the cost of replanting.
• Produce more sustainable economic benefits -  quality hardwood timber, coppice wood, and non-timber forest products.
• Sourcing trees and seeds locally reduces transport costs, reduces pollution and helps to safeguard local employment.  

    Climate Change and native trees:

The most recent predictions for climate change suggest an increase in temperature, changes in rainfall, wind speed, cloud cover and vapour pressure.
These changes will have a range of implications for the survival and growth of trees, including:

• Warmer temperatures and higher CO² levels will most likely cause a general increase in plant growth rates.
• There will be significant losses of life due to drought, storm damage, pests and disease.
• And a worsening impact of drought and raised temperatures.

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Detailed research on carbon dioxide
 levels and trees:
 

The following web pages have useful information...

«     For information on Methane emissions from plants (these are generally overlooked.)
www.carbon-info.org/carbonnews_028.htm
and
www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/72
Compared to CO₂ methane is a much more dangerous greenhouse gas_, remaining in the atmosphere for 9-12 years it is 20 times more effective at trapping heat.
 

«     However, this article shows that tree planting is beneficial overall, because carbon absorbtion per hectare still vastly outweighs methane emissions. www.csiro.au/files/files/pih2.pdf
 

 «     For detailed research on temperature rises and ability of plants to absorb CO₂ see: http://www.carboncommentary.com/2008/01/14/72
Climate change will impact this by increasing spring and autumn temperatures thereby increasing the length of the growing season.
 

 «     Treeplanting described in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treeplanting for further information on:

* Deforestation and climate change.
* The chemical process of photosynthesis .
* Forests .v. other vegetation.
i.e. Tropical forests have a large net cooling effect, because of increased cloudiness, and high growth rates. Yet arid grassland reflects more sun, also keeping temperatures lower, whereas a grass lawn is as green as a tree but absorbs far less CO_2.

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