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Buncrana ‘Tidy Towns’ is buzzing
again
26.09.18
FOR the second year in
a row, Buncrana Tidy Towns has won the ‘Tidy Towns’
Local Authority Pollinator Award for the North West
& West Region for its pollinator project.
Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer,
explains “The focus of the award is on biodiversity
and the crucial role that the declining population
of Irish bees play in the pollination of our plants,
trees and vegetables. The award encourages local
groups to implement pollinator-friendly actions in
their towns and villages. Among the measures
implemented by Buncrana Tidy Towns were mapping of
biodiversity areas, selective mowing (including only
mowing one-metre deep along roadsides and
hedgerows), the planting of pollinator-friendly
plants, the erection of signage highlighting areas
managed for biodiversity and the delivery of public
talks on wildlife.” |
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George McDermott & Colm Grant
highlight some measures being implemented in
Buncrana as part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. |
“One-third of our 99
bee species are threatened with extinction from
Ireland” said Juanita Browne, Project Officer with
the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. "This is because we
have drastically reduced the amount of food
(wildflowers) and safe nesting sites in our
landscapes. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan was
launched in 2015 as a shared plan of action to try
to reverse these declines and work with communities,
businesses, parks, schools and farms to make an
Ireland where pollinators can survive and thrive.”
There was a great response again this year with 67
applications nationwide from 22 counties. The
standard of the applications was very high. Like the
other regional award winners, Buncrana Tidy Towns
will collect a €1,000 prize. The ‘Tidy Towns’
regional awards ceremonies will take place in
October and November.
“It’s all about encouraging wildlife,” said George
McDermott, the Buncrana town gardener. He assesses
the local bee population by walking a two-kilometre
transect regularly and counting the bee species he
observes there.
For more information, visit
www.tidytowns.ie
. To find out how you can take actions to help
pollinators or to enter the 2019 Pollinator Award,
visit
www.pollinators.ie . |
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