Midlands Biodiversity Projects Receive Over €170,000 In Funding

Local Authority

Project Type

Project Description

2022

Westmeath

IAS

IAS Management Plan for Belvedere House, Gardens and Park.

€26,000

Westmeath

Biodiversity Plans

Biodiversity Management/ Enhancement Plans will be prepared for Council owned lands at Kerinstown/Balrowan.

€9,271

Westmeath

Wetland survey

Surveying and raising awareness of Wetland Sites in Co. Westmeath: Following on from Phase 1 desktop survey (completed with funding from NBAP in 2019), and initial field survey of 12 sites in 2020. Further field survey will be carried out on sites of County value and those sites identified as ‘indicative’ in 2021 and 2022. Survey reports will be prepared and outreach organised for World Wetlands Day.

€12,750

Westmeath

Birds - Barn Owls

We propose to implement a citizen science and strategic survey to assess the status and breeding performance of Barn Owls in Westmeath and to identify their conservation requirements. To improve the status of Barn Owls, we will provide practical conservation guidance through a series of high-quality videos on; nest boxes, managing and creating habitat, and rodenticide use.

€4,250

Westmeath

Pollinator Awareness

This year we plan to run an expanded campaign on Midlands 103 Radio that will include a full schedule of the nine infomercials running one per week as appropriate to the time of year. There will be specific messaging around Biodiversity Week also.

€5,173

Westmeath

IAS Quagga Mussel

The project focusses on the Quagga mussel, a high impact aquatic invasive alien species discovered in the Shannon in 2021 and aims to address several key knowledge gaps.  The quagga mussel will outcompete the zebra mussel, establish higher biomass even on soft sediments to a depth far beyond 34m, effect the filtering rates of our lake and river water and threatens the provision of water as it will affect abstraction

€3,371

Westmeath

Biodiversity Awareness & Management Plan

Old Rail Trail Greenway: In 2018 NBAP funded site survey and a report outlining recommendations to enhance the greenway for Pollinators and Biodiversity. They intend to build on that Plan by engaging an Ecologist to develop projects to enhance Biodiversity at 4 specific locations on the Greenway.                                                                                                                                                        An Ecologist will undertake a site survey and prepare a Biodiversity Management Plan for Council lands at Ranelagh (c. 2 ha, south of Lough Ree SAC, SPA and north of the River Shannon Callows SAC, SPA).

€957

Offaly

Biodiversity Enhancement

Syngefield Demesne represents one of Council’s largest land holdings and the plan is to see how it can be managed to maximise biodiversity and carbon capture. It is planned that fencing off the demesne woodland along the river; replanting demesne oaks; planting native species to provide groves which will also screen the business park; reinstate a remnant hedge; survey species present; update tree report; grassland management will all be considered.

€15,000

Offaly

Habitat Study

Bryophytes on the Camcor Tributary study

€1,700

Offaly

Birds - Barn Owl

In 2021, with the support of NBAP funding, we undertook a countywide survey of Barn Owls which provided new information on the status and trends of Barn Owl populations in County Offaly. We now hope to build on this platform, to continue to foster links with local community groups and landowners to implement practical conservation initiatives, to take advantage of the recent increases and to help secure the future of Barn Owl populations

€5,248

Offaly

Biodiversity Awareness

Biodiversity Ads on Midlands Radio

€5,173

Offaly

Biodiversity Awareness

The “In Your Nature Podcast” is a collaboration between BirdWatch Ireland and local authority Heritage Officers in counties Laois and Offaly

€4,360

Offaly

IAS Control

Himalayan Balsam control on the Camcor and Little Brosna Rivers and county wide Japanese knotweed control

€17,000

Offaly

IAS Quagga Mussel

The project focusses on the Quagga mussel, a high impact aquatic invasive alien species discovered in the Shannon in 2021 and aims to address several key knowledge gaps.  The quagga mussel will outcompete the zebra mussel, establish higher biomass even on soft sediments to a depth far beyond 34m, effect the filtering rates of our lake and river water and threatens the provision of water as it will affect abstraction

€3,371

Offaly

Biodiversity Recording

A citizen science initiative which the County Council will purchase of two moth traps to let the public use for collection of data.

€1,302

Laois

Wetlands

A desk study of wetlands in Laois was carried out in 2021 with the assistance of the NBAP. Wetland Surveys Ireland were appointed in 2021 to carry out two phases of the Wetland Survey, the desk study in 2021 and a selected field study in 2022. This year we w will increase the number of sites studied in detail on the ground from c20 to c30.

€31,450

Laois

Biodiversity Awareness

Radio Awareness campaign on All-Ireland Pollinator Plan alongside Westmeath and Offaly CoCo and support Birdwatch Ireland podcast series "In Your Nature’. 

€4,250

Laois

Biodiversity Awareness

Enhancing Biodiversity at Timahoe Monastic Site.

€10,998

Laois

Biodiversity Awareness

Portlaoise Low Carbon Town: An Choill Beag in Primary Schools, it is proposed to plant 3 small, dense native woodland habitats on school campuses and another at Laois Education Centre as an educational resource for teachers with bespoke signage as part of new a Biodiversity Demonstration site.

€17,000