Peatlands – bogs, fens and heaths – are part of the Irish soul. Neither water nor land and yet both, they were once considered gateways to the otherworld. Bleak and beautiful, they are time capsules that hold a record of history going back thousands of years. They supported Irish life for generations, providing fuel and employment, and are home to flora and fauna found nowhere else.

Carsten Krieger, the author and photographer behind Wild Ireland, Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way and many other titles, celebrates the magic and mystery of our peatlands. He looks at the origin of these habitats, the often dark traditions associated with the Irish peatlands, and how we can maintain the delicate balance between man and nature into the future.