Spring Newsletter 2019 Northern Ireland Discarded banana skins which will take a month to decompose Taking action for Our rangers spend a lot of time picking up litter the environment Throughout our landscapes, in our rivers and loughs, along our coast and in our countryside, human activities have been pushing species to the edge Keeping the Mournes magical and putting natural resources under unsustainable pressure. Securing mmortalised in song, known bouldering. We estimate around ‘We’d like to see visitors take their along better paths, as well as helping nature’s recovery is possible, but it internationally and voted 60,000 people a year walk the Glen rubbish home, including items you the local flora and fauna to thrive. will require ambition and long-term I River path to ascend Slieve Donard might not have even considered to commitment from government and the nation’s top walking and our counters suggest that well be litter’, Patrick continues. ‘The In early 2019 we will recruit our first wider society. destination, the Mournes are over 100,000 people walk the other number of orange and banana peels Mountain Rangers to lead the project a special place for many. But mountain paths in our care annually. our rangers discover has been on the and spend their days on the mountain We believe a healthy natural have you ever considered As more people discover the natural rise. You might think these foodstuffs – not your average day job. They’ll environment is the foundation beauty of the Mournes, more pressure is are fine to discard, but it can take be driving the project, repairing and of society’s health, wellbeing and that even a mountain needs being put on the paths and surrounding up to six months for an orange peel creating new paths and monitoring prosperity, and want to see new looking after? vegetation, leading to erosion and to decompose and one month for a erosion. legislation for the environment damage of the priority habitat. banana. The process takes even longer throughout the UK. Based at Murlough National Nature when left on an exposed mountain top. ‘It’s always a treat when our small team Reserve, our team of four rangers An increase in visitors also means The skins can also have a detrimental gets to spend time working on what we A new and strong Environment Bill will and volunteers take care of around an increase in rubbish – and lots of effect on local wildlife whose regular affectionately call ‘The Mountain’, adds be essential if the UK and its devolved 1,400 acres of upland heath on the it! Most seasoned hikers know to diet doesn’t include tropical fruits.’ Patrick, ‘but it’s not an easy job. Some countries are to become world leaders iconic Slieve Donard (Northern respect the ‘leave no trace’ motto, areas are inaccessible by vehicle and in looking after the environment for the Ireland’s highest peak at 850m) but unfortunately some visitors don’t We already care for the Mournes weather conditions can be challenging, long term. and adjoining Slieve Commedagh. follow this line of thought as Area through controlled grazing, but we believe, as custodians, it’s both Occurring at elevations over 750m, Ranger Patrick Lynch explains: ‘We regular habitat assessments, path a privilege and a responsibility to look With Brexit day approaching, we it is this heathland which makes collect several bags of rubbish from the maintenance, and projects with after the Mournes. The Donard paths must ensure that in replacing EU laws, the Eastern Mournes so special and Mournes each month, and the problem partners, such as rebuilding the project will ensure that future visitors government sets ambitious direction designates them as an Area of Special has grown in recent years. During the Mourne Wall. To address increased and rare habitat and wildlife can and commitments to put nature first. Scientific Interest and Special Area particularly good weather last summer visitor pressure, we’ve recently begun a continue to thrive, side by side.’ Heather McLachlan, Regional Director of Conservation, recognising their the mountain was swamped with litter, project to improve the 2.5km of paths, for Northern Ireland said: ‘A strong importance on a European scale. and we were even finding discarded reducing erosion and protecting this As members visiting the Mournes you legal basis for the recovery of nature sleeping bags, tents, and scattered litter fragile and rare habitat. can support the project by keeping to is particularly important in NI where As public interest in health, wellbeing from one-time-only camping trips. I the designated paths and taking your there is no independent regulator for and nature has grown, more and estimate we spend 56 hours a month The project is estimated to take rubbish home with you. Together we the environment – unlike the rest of more people are treading the Mourne just collecting rubbish, time which we two years with a budget of around can care for this special place, ensuring the UK where Environment Agencies paths to enjoy a range of activities, could be spending on vital conservation £240,000. It should mean that visitors future generations can enjoy the magic are separated from government from peak walking challenges to and restoration work. will have a more comfortable walk of the Mournes for years to come. departments.’ Page 02 Page 03 Page 04 Page 06 Page 07 Go wild for nature Home Ground comes to Mount Stewart Bringing history back to life Volunteering opportunities The secret's out at Castle Ward www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ni Spring 2019 01 In the picture Dr Bob Brown OBE Regional Chairman Restoring nature…securing our Wild success at Is there anyone out there who doesn’t live in the environment? If so, please future health and wellbeing Ploughman’s Hill meadow get in touch – I’d be interested to meet them! We have all seen and heard the uncertainties of Brexit have not Last year, as part of our commitment to abundance of pollinators including research that says nature is good been helping. We have been, and make our native-friendly spaces bigger many species of bees, butterflies and The rest of us do live in the for us, but many of us don’t make will continue to work closely with and more connected, we took the moths. environment, with its air, waters, foods, the connection of how or why that the farming community here to find bold decision to turn a 14-acre field at soils, nature and landscapes. So why do actually is. ways of making whatever deal we get Ploughman’s Hill within Mount Stewart In early October the field was we hear “environment or the economy?” work for nature and farming. This is Demesne into one of the largest wild- mowed and the crop scattered as though we have to choose between At a very basic level nature provides all because we believe that farmers and flower meadows in Northern Ireland. so that seeds would fall and once conservation and peoples’ interests? those important things that mean that farming are at the heart of how we will grazed will be trampled into the It’s not an either/or – the reality is we can live well; clean air, clean water, restore nature for everyone’s benefit. Wildflower meadows are some of our ground for germination next year. that we’re not just dependent on the fertile and productive soils. It is often most important and diverse habitats, The remaining crop was baled and environment, we’re part of it. down to how the land around us is Your support is crucial in enabling but unfortunately they have rapidly used as winter feeding for livestock, managed that dictates whether or not us to do this and all the other disappeared from our landscape over thus potentially spreading the wild Resolving these false dilemmas it is giving us what we need. Each and conservation work; whether you visit, the past 60 years, owing to land-use flowers to other parts of the estate. and offering ways in which people every one of us depends on the quality buy a tea-towel, make a donation or intensification. It is also planned to create further can reconnect with nature is at the of nature and the land around us. volunteer your time, it all enables us small pockets of wildflower meadows heart of the National Trust’s ‘Land, to fulfil this commitment. On behalf The field was formerly used for growing across the estate this year. Outdoors and Nature’ programme. So what has that got to do with of my team a huge thank you! potatoes and cereal. Last May it was This recognises that everywhere in the the National Trust? As the single carefully prepared and sown with a We have been overwhelmed by the UK, and certainly in Northern Ireland, largest private landowner beyond Managing land for nature is a big part native flora mix containing 21 species positive response to the meadow nature is in trouble. However, with government in Northern Ireland, we of what National Trust do. Restoring of wild flowers and seven species of from our visitors, many of whom have a huge responsibility and role nature is not ‘a nice to do’, it’s a ‘must 174km (22%) of our coast, and about grasses. remember wildflower meadows from to play in the security of Northern do’. Fixing nature is not something 12,000 ha (1%) of Northern Ireland’s their childhoods. We have received Ireland’s natural environment and we can do overnight; it will take years landmass in its care, the Trust has both Despite a very dry summer, the field visits from local farmers, housing the health and wellbeing of our to mend and for nature to thrive.