In August 1993 a small group got together to make an attempt to save the raised bog as a commercial peat company had started to extract peat from it.
First contact was made with the Mineral Planning Unit in Belfast and in doing so we discovered that there was no planning permission for commercial extraction of peat from the bog. The bog is of immense importance to the area, especially to the river system as peat extraction would cause destruction of the source of water for them.

During a series of meetings the Agivey anglers helped with our fight for the preservation along with other groups e.g., Friends of Ballinahone, Ulster Wildlife Trust, Ulster Anglers Federation, Moyola Conservation Group, Friends of the Earth, Irish Peatland Conservation Group, University of Ulster, Coleraine Borough Council and David Bellamy.

Contact was made with the offices of the established political parties who were sympathetic to our cause. Statements to the local press and meetings kept local people informed and due to this pressure the peat contractor stopped work.

As there was no planning permission, we requested Mineral Planning Unit to take urgent steps to stop work on the bog. The Chief Executive of the Minerals Planning Unit visited the bog and seeing the extent of the damage he proceeded to stop all work with immediate effect.

The Contractor then made a planning application for peat extraction. The local group opposed this application as did the other supporting organisations and local people also supported the group. Numerous letters supporting the group were sent to the planning office and discussions took place with the Chief Planning Officer. This also appeared in the local press.

Part of the planning rules involved adhering to Wildlife Habitat Directive as highlighted by the ecological study of the bog carried out by the University of Ulster, Coleraine. Faced with all these demands the contractor withdrew his planning application and also removed his machinery from the bog in 15th July 1995.