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ULSTER WILDLIFE ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014/15 Ulster Wildlife – Annual Report & Accounts | 2014 - 2015 1 2 Contents Page Foreword .................................................................................................................4 Vision, Mission & Goals ........................................................................................6 Governance .............................................................................................................8 Goal One - Inspire People to Champion Wildlife and Value Nature ...................................11 Discovery & Learning ..........................................................................................................12 ParkLife ...................................................................................................................................14 Wildlife Watch ......................................................................................................................15 Skills for Living Landscapes and Seas ...........................................................................16 Volunteering .......................................................................................................................... 17 Goal Two - Protect and Restore Habitats and Ecosystems through Practical Action and Research ............................................................................18 Nature Reserves ...................................................................................................................20 Save our Magnificent Meadows ......................................................................................24 Be There for Barn Owls ......................................................................................................25 Living Seas Community Engagement ............................................................................26 Shore Thing Project .............................................................................................................27 Goal Three - Standing up for Nature by Influencing Government Policy ............................... 28 Our Influencing Work ..........................................................................................................30 Badgers & Bovine TB and NIRDP ....................................................................................31 NI Biodiversity Strategy and Health & Well-being ......................................................32 Marine Protection ................................................................................................................33 Goal Four - Promote Health & Well-being through Enjoyment ................................................ of the Natural Environment .................................................................................... 34 Natural World Challenge ....................................................................................................36 Access on Nature Reserves ..............................................................................................37 Goal Five - Grow our Success and Extend our Reach ............................................................ 38 Our Members & Supporters .............................................................................................40 Raising Awareness ..............................................................................................................42 Developing Projects .............................................................................................................43 Landfill Communities Fund................................................................................................44 Future Focus ............................................................................................................. 46 Financial Overview .................................................................................................. 48 Financial Statements .............................................................................................. 49 Ulster Wildlife - Annual Report & Accounts | 2014 - 2015 3 Foreword from our Chairman & Chief Executive Nature matters to everyone in Northern Ireland. It’s about place and belonging, culture and heritage, local people and local wildlife. It shapes communities and plays an important role in our quality of life, health and well-being. If we get the balance right, it preserves our future, During the year, we were successful in securing providing clean air, water, food, shelter and natural a five-year contract for the delivery of ParkLife, an resources whilst supporting the local economy. environmental education programme in partnership with Belfast City Council. Recognising the value To help demonstrate that ‘Nature Matters’ we of the outdoor classrooms offered by Belfast were delighted to welcome author Tony Juniper as parks, this project provides the opportunity for the guest speaker at a reception in Belfast City Hall schoolchildren to learn about wildlife in their during August 2014. The event was sponsored by locality and how the natural environment supports Bombardier. Prizes were presented to the winners their health and well-being. With over 20,000 of the Nature Matters photographic competition by interactions with children to date, feedback Jenny Bristow. This highlighted the valuable role demonstrates that this is a very effective way to nature plays in our society and the need for each facilitate a connection with nature that will stay of us to act responsibly to ensure that Northern throughout their lives. Ireland, the corner of the world we all call home, is protected for future generations. We were also delighted that Monty Halls joined Ulster Wildlife as our Living Seas Ambassador. As a broadcaster, speaker, naturalist, marine biologist and travel writer, he has over two decades of experience leading teams to some of the most remote environments on earth, presenting wildlife and adventure documentaries. Effective environmental governance is the key to sustainable development at regional, national and international levels. Within Northern Ireland, it has been encouraging to see progress towards improving the protection and management of Ulster Wildlife’s Ambassador - Monty Halls Strangford Lough, one of our most valuable natural heritage assets. Following the complaint taken to the European Commission by Ulster Wildlife Work continues on our nature reserves with in 2012, an investigation was completed by the investment to improve the infrastructure for Northern Ireland Audit Office and they will now public access and further enhance the condition monitor the progress of the implementation plan of habitats. During the year, upgrade work was by DOENI and DARD. We will continue to work progressed on Bog Meadows in Belfast with alongside government and key stakeholders to grazing re-established for the first time in many consider how the sensitive ecosystems within the years. Specialist nature conservation work Lough can be better protected and restored. continues on designated sites such as Ballynahone Bog, Slievenacloy and Umbra. Complete restoration of the lost horse mussel reefs may not happen within this generation, We also welcomed the first intake of trainees onto but, as the legacy of damage occurred under its our new Nature Skills Programme. Six trainees custodianship, it is important that remedial action started in November 2014, developing their starts now. knowledge and expertise in Living Landscapes and Living Seas to help them prepare for a future career within the natural heritage sector. 4 Foreword from our Chairman & Chief Executive New projects coming on stream have added a new and very positive dimension to the work that we do, such as the Save Our Magnificent Meadows Project in Fermanagh and Tyrone. During the first year this project has seen tremendous results and we hope to build on this success during the remainder of the project. We are very fortunate to have an extremely talented and committed staff team who really make a difference, working to deliver our key themes of Living Landscapes and Living Seas. Although considerable progress has been achieved in terms of delivering tangible environmental outputs, funding uncertainties following the budget cuts for the NI Assembly featured throughout much of the year. This uncertainty caused significant governance challenges for the charity, which were eventually resolved, in part, for the 2015/16 financial year. We would like to thank Council Members and the Ulster Wildlife staff team for their support as we managed this complex and difficult process. We would also like to say a special thank you to all our members for their continued support. It is a privilege to work for and to volunteer for a charity like Ulster Wildlife. Together we can find a sustainable future for the wildlife in Northern Ireland. Jennifer Fulton Roy Ramsay CEO Chairman Swans at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve Ulster Wildlife – Annual Report & Accounts | 2014 - 2015 5 Vision, Mission & Goals The scope of responsibility for Ulster Wildlife is governed by its charitable objects and purposes. Ulster Wildlife’s Charitable Objects as set out in its current Articles of Association are - (1) The advancement of environmental protection and improvement, in particular the conservation of all aspects of Northern Ireland and its adjacent areas’ wildlife, biodiversity, geodiversity and associated natural beauty for the benefit of present and future generations by: (a) safeguarding,