This is how they save the turf to fuel fires in the West of Ireland. After it’s cut, it’s spread flat for a few days to allow one side of it to dry; then it’s raised into little clumps like these ones called “rickles”. When it has hardened and dried in this position it is put into larger clumps on the side of the road and finally brought home in a trailer and tractor.
I had never seen the like of these little black clumps before and didn’t know what they were. I had great fun chasing around them but was careful not to knock any of them. The neighbouring farmer who had done all the work wouldn’t have appreciated it…