Irish construction company Sisk has partnered with Green Restoration Ireland (GRI) to help prepare a site in County Offaly for sowing season.

Over 10 volunteers from Sisk cleaned a peat field of weeds in preparation for agricultural experiments. Sisk's involvement in the project is part of the company's sustainability roadmap to establish sustainable partnerships that support the restoration of peatlands.

The project is one of Ireland's first two 'wetland farms' at Tumbeagh, County Offaly. Since the works have began at the site, the water table has been raised on about three hectares of former peat pasture avoiding 30-40 tonnes of CO2 emissions. In order to regulate the water level across the site, ponds and a series of adjustable dams have been installed.

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Alan Cawley, Sustainability Manager, John Sisk & Son, said: "We are delighted to once again be partnering with Green Restoration Ireland for this exciting new project developing a new form of agriculture. We appreciate the positive impact we can have by volunteering in sustainability projects such as this one. Support for the restoration of our peatlands is one of our key initiatives on our sustainability roadmap. It is great to see the positive impact that our employees can have."

Dr Doug McMillan, Green Restoration Ireland, said: "How do we keep producing food while restoring our peatlands? The solution is paludiculture, and we are delighted that Sisk is working with us to meet this key sustainability challenge for Ireland."