Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 2019-2025 Clarecastle & Ballyea Biodiversity Plan 2019 to 2025 Bee Orchid, Port of Clare, Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan Team: Catherine O’Connor, Fiona Trahe, Christy Leyden, Ronan Leyden, Eric Shaw, Michael Carr & Jean Ryan Page 1 of 12 Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 2019-2025 Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage and Wildlife Team is a sub-committee of Clarecastle Community Development - their aim is to source, collect & publish Cultural, Historical, Wildlife and Natural Amenities material in order to raise awareness and to aid preservation of knowledge and amenities. The Group work in tandem with Clarecastle Tidy towns under the overall umbrella of Clarecastle Community Development CLG. This plan was documented, post team attendance of the CLDC & Burren-Beo Biodiversity course held at CLDC Centre Ennis 2019. Biodiversity in Clarecastle, Co Clare. Clarecastle village is situated beside the River Fergus and for this reason has Estuarine, wetland & mudflat habitat, which is excellent for bird watching -particularly migrants (lapwing, Shellduck, Curlew, Teal, Widgeon, Sand martins, Whooper Swan etc). Due to its geological make up, the land is calcareous and for this reason tends to have similar flower (Bee Orchid, Bird Foot Trefoil, yellow rattle, Quaking Grass, Crow Garlic etc), bush and tree species (Willow, Hazel scrub, Holly etc), to that found in the Burren Co Clare. The village is mostly surrounded by farmland, where ample biodiversity can be found in hedgerows, particularly around Lissane and Island McGrath areas, where Blackberry, Crab Apple and Elderflower support pollinators, small mammals and many birds. As the Clarecastle was the Port Of Clare, there is a substantial amount of built heritage in the area, which now supports roosting & nesting birds and bats. The Port of Clare, at the New Quay location is home to an untouched Wildflower meadow, where different species of Orchid and wild grasses can be seen. A large variety of pollinators (Butterflies, Bees, hover flies & Dragon flies), can be seen benefitting from this habitat. Clarecastle now being largely a residential area, has many garden and parkland habitats, which support garden wildlife. There are also forested areas such as Ballybeg woods and Killone Abbey which support woodland animals and forest birds. Local lakes & ponds in the area, support nesting water birds such as Coots, Duck, Great crested grebe, newts & common frog etc. The purpose of this Biodiversity plan is to bring awareness and to preserve and promote existing wildlife in the Clarecastle area. The plan will focus on the natural and built heritage in the village, with the involvement of community groups and local school, where possible. The plan shall be rolled out using a phased approach, over 5 years. Page 2 of 12 Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 2019-2025 Table of Contents: Title: Page: 1. Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 4 2. Ensuring Success 7 3. Resources for Implementing the Biodiversity Plan 8 4. Clarecastle Natural Heritage Habitats 9 5. Clarecastle Built Heritage Habitats 10 6. Port of Clare Habitat Map. 11 7. Ballybeg Woods Habitat Map. 12 8. Clarecastle community Biodiversity features to date (8A-8D) 13 9. Clarecastle Current Biodiversity Signage 12 10. Proposed Loop Walk Signage 14 11. Attachments 15 Left to right: Lapwing, Birds-foot trefoil, Knapweed, The New Quay Clarecastle Left to right: Common Orchid, Cowslip, Harts Tongue Fern found in Clarecastle. Page 3 of 12 Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 2019-2025 Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan. No: Action: Lead Partner: Other Timeframe: Approx. Cost: Partners: 1. 1(a): Clarecastle & Clare County 2019- 2020 TBD Create a mapped looped Ballyea Council, walk around Clarecastle Heritage & Leader. village with enhanced Wildlife group. signage (to include QSR code), taking into account the biodiversity found at both the built and natural heritage habitats 1(b): Outside village environs: Clare Abbey, Killone Abbey & Killoo Church signage installation. Bluetooth & software set up to relay QSR information 2 Seek preservation of Clarecastle & Clarecastle / 2019-2020 TBD biodiversity and access Ballyea Roche Liaison to the old Famine Relief Heritage & Group. road from Lissane to Wildlife group. the Port of Clare, where Clarecastle Tidy a section is found on the Towns. grounds of Roche* Ireland. Dermot *Note: Roche plant is Kelleher due to be turned back (Graphic into a green field site. Designer) Mount signage to detail the history of the famine road and the biodiversity that can also be found at this location. 3 Seek the retention / Clarecastle & Clarecastle / 2019-2020 TBD handover of existing Ballyea Roche Liaison Roche biodiversity Heritage & Group. signage. Wildlife group. 4 Wildflower meadow at Clarecastle & Burren-Beo & 2019-2020 TBD the Quay, Port of Clare. Ballyea CLDC Preservation, Heritage & Wildflower maintenance & Wildlife group. Meadow enhancement of this training area. Dr Janice Fuller Development of Andrew St wildflower meadows / Ledger areas at other locations within Clarecastle (GAA Grounds - tree planting etc) Green Corridor – Page 4 of 12 Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 2019-2025 Reduce grass cutting on entrance roads to Clarecastle. Work with Council to schedule full cut in September Quadrants at Clare Abbey roundabout – to follow planting and grass cutting management as seen at Clare Abbey side. Heritage or art installation to be considered for Clare Abbey round about. Designate areas for Biodiversity within community such as St Joeseph’s Terrace, Maddens Terrace, Conduct Habitat and Biodiversity study of GAA complex, Parish Graveyard, Scout site, Peoples Park and Riverbank. Tree audit & maintenance Clarecastle Village & Clare Abbey. 5. Bird hides, nest boxes Clarecastle & Burren-Beo & 2019-2025 TBD and migrant signage at Ballyea CLDC Training the Port of Clare & Heritage & Islandavanna areas Wildlife group Clarecastle Men’s shed Purchase wildlife cameras to mount at various locations in Clarecastle to monitor & study wildlife. 6. Ennis to Clarecastle Clarecastle & Clare County 2019-2025 TBD River Fergus Greenway Ballyea Council, Heritage & Leader. Feasibility study – what Wildlife group OPW pollinator friendly planting to go in over over the next 3 years 7. Community Orchard in Clarecastle & Clarecastle Tidy 2019-2025 TBD Clarecastle People’s Ballyea Towns, Park Heritage & Men’s shed, Wildlife group Clarecastle 1 tree per child / group Scouts, /primary school class Clarecastle Community Build stone wall to garden, enclose tree’s Clarecastle NS, Page 5 of 12 Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 2019-2025 Seed Savers, & Sensory garden to Burren-Beo & provide amenity special CLDC orchard needs children and Training elderly members of community. Andrew St Develop wheel chair Ledger access to the Peoples Park Acquire services of Andre St ledger to advise on tree planting and further developing Orchard 8. Invasive species Clarecastle & Clarecastle Tidy 2019-2025 TBD mapping & control Ballyea Towns, Heritage & Clarecastle Wildlife group Community garden, BurrenBeo & CLDC Invasive weed training, Invasive Species Contractor, Clare Co Council Signage. 9. Community Clarecastle & Clarecastle 2019-2023 TBD Composting for Ballyea Community community garden, Heritage & garden, school & local housing Wildlife group Resident estates, where possible. committee’s, Greener Clare Composter Pigs Burren-Beo & CLDC 10. Clarecastle Biodiversity Clarecastle & Shannon 2019-2025 TBD & Heritage Visitor Ballyea Estuary Way Centre Heritage & Reps, Wildlife group Burren-Beo & Approach Roche CLDC training, regarding old Cottage Leader & Clare near site entrance Co Council. location. Business / commercial property. Roche Ireland. 11 Community Training: Clarecastle & Dr Janice Fuller 2019- 2020 TBD Dr Janice Fuller & Ballyea Andrew St ledger to Heritage & Andrew St provide talk to Wildlife group ledger Clarecastle community regarding Biodiversity Jean Ryan Mini Bioblitz (Ballybeg Christie Leyden Woods / The Quay Clarecastle) with Local School Children & Page 6 of 12 Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan 2019-2025 community groups Bumblebee study completion 12 Website training Clarecastle & Burren-Beo 2019- 2020 TBD Ballyea training contacts Heritage & & CLDC Wildlife group 2. Ensuring Success The successful implementation of the Biodiversity plan requires commitment from the community to support the projects, activities and / or events outlined in the plan. The Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & wildlife group shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ‘Clarecastle Biodiversity plan 2019-2025’. The group shall meet at least twice a year in order to set annual goals and to review progress to date. Burren-Beo and CLDC shall be available to support Clarecastle in implementing their plan. 3. Resources for implementing the Biodiversity Plan: No: Action: Resources: 1. 1(a): www.irishtrails.ie Create a mapped looped walk www.clarelibrary.ie around Clarecastle village with www.heritagecouncil.ie enhanced signage (to include QSR www.geohive.ie code), taking into account the www.heritagemaps.ie biodiversity found at both the built www.mapsbiodiversityireland.ie and natural heritage habitats 1(b): Outside village environs: Clare Abbey, Killone Abbey & Killoo Church signage installation. Bluetooth & software set up to relay QSR information 2 Seek preservation of biodiversity Roche Ireland & Clarecastle Liasion group and access to the old Famine Relief road from Lissane to the Port of Clare, where a section is found on the grounds of Roche* Ireland. *Note: Roche