0:00:18 > 0:00:23# Into each life some rain must fall... #
0:00:24 > 0:00:29In the wettest areas of Northern Ireland, over 55 days of rainfall
0:00:29 > 0:00:34is the norm in the three months of winter, and over 45 days in summer.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39I'd like to be able to report that the sun shines continuously in summer,
0:00:39 > 0:00:40but that just wouldn't be true.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45# All the ducks are swimming in the water... #
0:00:45 > 0:00:46You'd be disappointed if I didn't say it,
0:00:46 > 0:00:48so I'm not going to let you down.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50It's great weather for ducks.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52# All the ducks are swimming in the water... #
0:00:52 > 0:00:54And this isn't an old wives' tale.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Research has confirmed that ducks like hanging out there in the pond
0:00:58 > 0:01:00to enjoy the rainy weather.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Something else that relies on rain is bogland.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07And the blanket bog of Cuilcagh Mountain in County Fermanagh is one
0:01:07 > 0:01:09of the finest examples in Western Europe.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20This may look like a nice scenic path for the ordinary rambler,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24but of course it's doing something important for the conservation of this area.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Yeah.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28The sole and only reason we put the boardwalk in is to help
0:01:28 > 0:01:30conserve the habitat.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34What was basically happening was the footfall of walkers was eroding this
0:01:34 > 0:01:38rare blanket bog, so we had to take some remedial action to protect it.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40- Today's quite a nice day, but it's not great for the midgies here.- No!
0:01:40 > 0:01:43We're being eaten alive. I think we need to go for a higher altitude.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Yes, I think so. We could try and find a bit of breeze.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- Well, we're halfway up.- Mm-hmm. - It's longer than it looks, isn't it? - It is, yes, indeed.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57But some of the views are spectacular.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59The views are certainly worth it, there's no doubt.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01You're looking right across Fermanagh here.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Out into Donegal, Sligo.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05It's pretty breathtaking, all right.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09And, what, we've got about 200 or 300 steps still ahead of us.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10Well, we'll get there.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22- So, no trees.- No, no trees, no.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Peat's not a very good growing medium, so it's only
0:02:24 > 0:02:28specialised plants that can tolerate those nutrient-poor conditions.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37We're almost at the top.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38BARRA EXHALES
0:02:38 > 0:02:43'The trail across the bogland is over 7km long and takes us to the
0:02:43 > 0:02:47'summit of Cuilcagh Mountain, but so far it's been worth it.'
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Well, here we are, Richard.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51Up to the top.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53660 metres.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56And it's still quite squelchy, isn't it?
0:02:56 > 0:03:00And you can really tell that the rainfall shaped this land in front of us.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Yes, it has a profound effect on the landscape around us.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05And how important is the bogland and why?
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Well, the bog is important in its own right for its biodiversity
0:03:08 > 0:03:10and its intrinsic environmental value,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13but equally it acts as a carbon store.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18This blanket bog and other bogs in Ireland are literally storing millions of tonnes of carbon.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21The peat is basically vegetation which hasn't completely rotted,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24so it's locked away in the bog over thousands and thousands of
0:03:24 > 0:03:28years, so this is really almost playing the same role as the
0:03:28 > 0:03:33Amazon rainforest in helping with climate change.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38This is a European-protected habitat and without that level of rainfall, it wouldn't exist.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40So, essentially you don't mind Fermanagh being called one of
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- the wettest counties of Northern Ireland, if not Ireland?- At times.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47No, on my day off I'd rather it was a bit drier maybe sometimes, but what can you do?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51- But, still, like today, the views are breathtaking, aren't they?- Yes. Aw, it's fabulous. It really is.