Curraghboy Community Biodiversity Action Plan 2019-2023 Actions for Biodiversity in Curraghboy Curraghboy Community Biodiversity Action Plan 2019-2023 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS eborah D’Arcy would like to thank Curraghboy Tidy Towns Committee and Dother participants for their commitment to this project. I also want to commend their dedication to promoting biodiversity in their community. Thanks also to Denise McDonnell Roscommon LEADER Partnership for her ongoing support of groups throughout the county and support during this project. ON POLLINATION n plants the transfer of pollen between flowers of the same species by wind or animals leads to Ifertilisation which is necessary for the production of seeds and fruit by the plant. Pollination is essential for the production of fruit and viable seeds. For us, this means we have a range of fruit and vegetables to eat. For wildlife, this provides fruit and seeds for animals to eat and the persistence of wildflowers in the landscape. Curraghboy Community Biodiversity Action Plan 2019-2023 1. INTRODUCTION cologists Seán Meehan, in their localities and have an Deborah D’Arcy and Billy opportunity to contribute to its EFlynn were commissioned conservation and enhancement. by Roscommon LEADER to work with communities in County This biodiversity plan was drawn Roscommon to provide up following a series of biodiversity training and facilitate workshops in the community the development of local which provided training in biodiversity plans. The principal biodiversity awareness and aim of this LEADER initiative is allowed collaboration to identify to increase the awareness of the projects to conserve and enhance importance of biodiversity in biodiversity in Curraghboy. communities and empower individuals and groups to make Emphasis was placed on positive contributions for the incorporating the objectives of the benefit of both wildlife and All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015 - people. 2020 into the biodiversity projects. This national plan It is encouraging and wildlife and habitats. The aim of proposes actions that will increase commendable to see that all the this project is to further build habitat and food sources for a communities to date have taken upon these achievements and to range of pollinating insects and biodiversity into account when strive for greater community provides a useful foundation from designing past and current participation to ensure that as which other biodiversity related projects thereby reflecting their many people as possible are made projects can evolve. awareness and concern for aware of the value of biodiversity What is Biodiversity? destination, a place to live and do business depends to a large extent on the rich biodiversity of the county. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth. It Our country’s natural heritage contributes to the includes all living things (organisms) that make up the attractiveness of landscapes, villages and urban natural world (including humans). Biodiversity also centres. refers to the places where animals and plants live (habitats) and the complex interactions between living What's the Local Biodiversity things and their environment which we call ecosystems. Action Plan For? The purpose of a Local Biodiversity Action Plan Why is Biodiversity Important? (LBAP) is to set out appropriate locally based actions for the conservation, management and/or Humans are a component of biodiversity and we are enhancement of habitats for the benefit of native dependent on biodiversity to provide a range of species. This local biodiversity action plan: ecosystem services. Human activities such as agriculture, forestry and fishing depend on services • Makes recommendations for the conservation of provided by biodiversity. We rely on biodiversity for biodiversity through appropriate actions for the the provision of clean air and water, food and protection, management or appreciation of an area of medicines, natural landscapes, flood control, noise high ecological value. pollution control and much more A healthy environment is important for human health and well- • Identifies actions to improve or enhance local areas being. Biodiversity provides us with natural amenities so as to increase their value as habitats for species. to enjoy, parks and green spaces, wildlife and • Encourages actions to raise awareness of the landscapes to admire and thus improves our quality of importance of biodiversity and its conservation. life. The attractiveness of our country as a tourist Curraghboy Community Biodiversity Action Plan 2019-2023 2. Key actions for biodiversity 2.1 habitat creation and management abitat creation is one way to increase the diversity of Hhabitats and enhance an area for biodiversity. Examples of small-scale habitat creation that may be appropriate and practical for community groups, schools and residents to undertake include managing an area as meadow grassland or wildflower lawn, planting hedgerows, treelines or groves of trees or creating a pond. Habitat creation should only be attempted in an area that is currently of low biodiversity value such as amenity grassland. Hedgerows are wildlife corridors Introducing a habitat uncommon in an area such as a pond may be Meadow grasslands and cuttings removed. Removing the of more benefit than planting wildflower lawns cuttings is important to prevent more trees in an area that already the build-up of nutrients in the has good tree cover. The traditional hay meadows soil. Wildflowers flourish in a once widespread in Ireland are nutrient poor soil where they can Creating a small complex of now very scarce due to changes in compete successfully with the habitats such as a small woodland farming practices. Meadows are a more competitive grasses. or grove of trees along with some haven for wildlife in summer Gradually over the years the meadow grassland around the being rich in wildflowers and the number and diversity of edges to create a collection of insects, birds and bats that depend wildflowers within the meadow semi-natural habitats will be of on them. Managing little used will increase. It may take several more benefit to biodiversity as it grassland areas as a meadow is years before you see an increase. will provide resources for a one way to increase the resources however, avoid using greater number of species. available to wildlife. Not only commercially available does this allow the growth of wildflower mixes to enhance your Hedgerow and tree wildflowers which provide meadow. These mixes often planting essential pollen for our pollinating contain species that are not native Planting native hedgerows, trees insects, long grass hosts a variety to Ireland and are really only and woodlands provide food, of other insects and invertebrates suitable for gardening and not for shelter and niche habitats for a and produce seed, both important creating natural habitats such as range of plant and animal life and food sources for birds. Bat meadows. In addition, some is one of the easiest ways of species will forage over a meadow species in these mixes are plants increasing the biodiversity value grassland rich in insect life. Long of disturbed ground or arable of an area. grass also provides cover and fields and are unlikely to thrive in nesting habitat for small a meadow grassland. Native trees and shrubs are best mammals. for wildlife. These species To increase the species diversity colonised Ireland naturally and Meadow grassland can be of a meadow, collect seed from a are adapted to the environmental established in parkland areas or grassland that is already more conditions here and other plant along grass verges. In general species rich such as from field and animal life have adapted to areas of meadow grassland or margins, river banks or roadside co-exist within them. long grassy verges should be cut verges or collect green hay from once a year in autumn and the these areas and spread on your Curraghboy Community Biodiversity Action Plan 2019-2023 meadow. Planting the seeds in amount of waste going to landfill facing banks of bare soil, sand, or pots and introducing them as plug and provides a source of nutrient peat. Keep vegetation sparse on plants may help their survival and rich compost for gardening. This any earth banks or stony banks to is a fun project to do with reduces the need to purchase provide nest sites for solitary schoolchildren. garden compost often sourced bees. Scrape back to bare soil from peat bogs contributing to the annually during October to Reducing the frequency of cutting loss of these treasured habitats. February to create bare ground for for lawns and other amenity or solitary bees to burrow into. roadside grassland is another way Avoid tipping of garden waste to provide increased resources for into waysides or wild areas. Grass Cavity nesting bees make their wildlife in particular pollinating cuttings disposed of in waysides nests in south/east facing insects. Where long meadow and other wild places smothers stonewalls, masonry, cavities in grassland is not a practical option, wildflowers. Garden plants which wood or dead plant stems. Visit encouraging a wildflower lawn are disposed of outside garden such areas on a sunny evening may be suitable. Cut the grass areas can take root and spread. from May -September. If bees are only every 6 weeks or so using the Some garden plants can become seen, protect these areas from highest setting on the lawnmower very invasive and spread to wild disturbance and, in particular, and remove the cuttings. This areas outcompeting our native ensure that there is no herbicides reduced cutting regime allows plants and can lead to damage of or pesticides used near these low growing wildflowers such as our natural habitats. areas. Additional nest sites can be dandelions, clover, selfheal, and provided by drilling holes in fence bird’s-foot trefoil to flower providing important nectar supplies for bees. Pollinator friendly planting While native plants are best for wildlife and should only be planted in wild areas, there are a wide range of both native and non-native garden plants which provide food for pollinating Many plant varieties provide food for pollinators insects which can be used in gardens and formal plantings.