Tag Archives: biodiversity

Local efforts to promote and protect plants and wildlife in West Clare have been given a huge boost with a local sand dunes conservation group receiving its first grant funding for its biodiversity work. Seafield Conservation Forum €5,000 grant is to support the future development of its community biodiversity action plan, according to Caroline Egan, Co-Moderator of the Forum. The voluntary association is dedicated to addressing coastal erosion, and to the restoration and conservation of Seafield’s sand dunes. It plans to work with experts, the local community and land-owners to implement actions which not only respond to the biodiversity emergency but will also provide a template to help protect the sand dunes at Seafield as a natural resource for all people. Welcoming the recognition of the forum’s work, Ms Egan said: “Seafield Sand Dunes has been a haven for bird life and an abundance of nature for millennia. Given the biodiversity and climate crisis that threatens unique sand dune habitats, …

CHANGES to an award-winning scheme that has supported farmers to deliver million of euros worth of conservation measures in the Burren have been branded “an unholy mess”. The Burren Programme incentivises those farming one of the most sensitive landscapes in the country, with payments to promote sustainable agricultural management. Since its inception, the pioneering programme has supported more than 400 local farmers who have delivered at least €33 million worth of landscape and biodiversity improvements. Despite its internationally-recognised achievements, the programme will change radically as of January 1, 2023. From the start of next year, farmers will have to transfer to the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, ACRES Burren Aran, which covers a territory from the Aran Islands to Loughrea in East Galway. It is feared the move will lead to a drop in payments to farmers and decrease incentives for conservation measures.  Burren IFA member, Michael Davoren has sought an urgent meeting with Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. “This is an unholy …

THERE are many Heritage Week events still to enjoy in county Clare over the coming four days, a selection of which we will round up here. In Scariff, Irish Seed Savers will host an exciting ‘Food Heritage for Biodiversity’ event on Sunday (August 21), from 11am to 5pm. ‘Sustainable Heritage’ and ‘Biodiversity’ are the themes for this year’s National Heritage Week and in exploring this further Irish Seed Savers have lined up a series of talks, tours and tastings which aim to deepen our connection with Ireland’s food crop heritage, natural environment and biodiversity. A Biodiversity Treasure Hunt for children will take place at 1pm and 3pm and live traditional music throughout day to accompany the schedule of events: 11am Seed Saving Demonstration with Deirdre Morrissey, Seed Curator at Irish Seed Savers 12am Guided Orchard, Log Bee Hive Tour & Heritage Apple Tasting 1pm Growing & Saving Seed for Biodiversity Walking Tour with Tristan Lienhard, Head Gardener at Irish Seed …

“PISSY beds and insects are a good thing,” members of Clare County Council heard at their May meeting.  The comments came from Green Party councillor, Liam Grant, who asked that the local authority stop using chemical herbicides in amenity areas. The Lahinch man suggested that more environmentally-friendly alternatives be found and that substances like glyphosate be limited to the control of invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed. Councillor Grant’s motion also outlined that, “A shift is needed by the public in how we manage weeds and how best to promote biodiversity”.  Addressing the meeting, Councillor Grant said he would love to see the authority follow the lead of the likes of Cork City Council. “We have done a lot of great work, but we could do more,” he said. “I know it might be easier for a city council than one like Clare which is largely rural, and I acknowledge that for Japanese Knotweed, you have to use herbicides. We …

TWELVE Clare communities are getting support so they can step up local efforts to protect native plants and animals by developing biodiversity plans. The supports are being provided by The Community Foundation for Ireland in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as part of a joint Environment and Nature Fund, which is now in its third year. Funding is being provided under two strands so Clare communities can respond to a biodiversity emergency which has seen many native species under immediate and ongoing threat. Under the first strand grants are being provided so that 10 Clare groups can assess the impact of the emergency amongst native species in the countryside, woodlands and along riverbeds.  These groups are: Lisdoonvarna Fáilte CLG; Quin Tidy Towns and Development; Ballynacally Tidy Towns; Newmarket-on-Fergus Tidy Towns; Kilkeedy Community Group; Ogonnelloe Community Centre CLG (trading as Ogonnelloe Exchange); Cooraclare Tidy Towns; Ruan Tidy Towns; Barefield …

ENNIS Tidy Towns has gone ‘wild’ about biodiversity. The local organisation launched its Wild About Ennis Biodiversity Plan for 2017- 2019 last Friday in the Gordon Drive Community Garden. Mayor of Ennis Ann Norton officially launched the plan with members of the local community in Cloughleigh, Chamber CE Scheme, who manage the Garden, Department of Social Protection, Ennis Chamber, Clare County Council and students from Cloughleigh Primary School in attendance. This community-led plan was developed with the support of local individuals and community groups through online questionnaires and two dedicated workshops. Ennis Tidy Towns also invited groups from throughout the county to assist with the development of the plan, thereby ensuring many of the ideas and skills learned during the process were distributed around the county. “We look forward to implementing this ambitious plan with the help of the local community as well as local stakeholders, including Clare County Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland.It also …

Five West Clare schools and volunteers from Kilrush Tidy Towns are participating in an environmental education initiative focusing on the aquatic and biodiversity resources of Poulnasherry Bay and its neighbouring Wood river catchment Poulnasherry Bay, a designated shellfish water on the Shannon Estuary, is located close to Querrin, Lisdeen and Moyasta. Utilising the award-winning ‘StreamScapes’ programme, Clare County Council and the Cork-based Coomhola Salmon Trust will host a series of field studies and theory sessions, backed up by a dedicated local environmental booklet that will be widely and freely distributed throughout the community. Kilrush Tidy Towns members and students from the five participating schools, namely Moyasta NS, Querrin NS, Gaelscoil Uí Choimín, St. Senan’s NS and Kilrush Community College, will be engaged in catchment studies and project work. “In hosting this programme, Clare County Council is giving people in the vicinity of Poulnasherry Bay and Kilrush the opportunity to learn about the important links between high status local water quality …

Ennis insects are living it up with five-star treatment in a “bug hotel”, thanks to the efforts of local national-school children. Up to 200 students and 20 teachers in the Holy Family Junior School have created a hotel for insects, as part of the school’s bid for a fifth Green Flag. Creepy crawlies have what can only be described as luxury accommodation in a timber house, made from recyclable wooden pallets, under the direction of teacher, Triona Waters. Measuring approximately six-feet high by two-feet wide, the insect house is full of leaves and old pots to provide an ideal home for a variety of bugs. This environmentally-friendly initiative is one of the main planks of a project, which aims to teach young children, from the ages of four to eight, more about biodiversity and the wonders of nature. Teacher, Fiona Power explains that this latest project started last September and will continue up to June 2017. Because the children involved …