New strategy in Gorey will protect the wildlife
CAMPAIGN HAS BEGUN FOR GOREY TO BE POLLINATOR FRIENDLY
A campaign has begun to help Gorey become a pollinator friendly town, by increasing biodiversity within the urban landscape to protect and encourage wildlife, especially important pollinating insects such as bees.
As part of the Greener Gorey strategy, Gorey Municipal District, in conjunction with Gorey Tidy Towns, is establishing wildlife corridors and green areas around the town, as well as along approach roads.
‘One example of this is the wildflower meadow that has been created on the Clogh roundabout at the end of the Gorey bypass,’ said district manager Amanda Byrne. ‘It might seem to some that we haven’t just gotten around to mowing it yet, but it contains many important native flowers such as meadow buttercups, St John’s wort, red clover, and cowslips.’
The roundabout will be cut later in the year in preparation for the display of daffodils which appears each Spring.
She said that wildlife corridors have also been established along the Paul Funge Boulevard, Chucky’s River, and Siúlán na Scoláirí (Scholar’s Walk) at Creagh.
‘These will be even more important as the town grows in the coming years,’said Ms Byrne. ‘Some areas will be more formal and managed than others, but impact on biodiversity is always an important consideration in any development.’
Gorey Tidy Towns has focused on pollinator friendly planting in its projects around town.
‘An Ghairdín Draíochta (Magic Garden) on the Coach Road has an insect hotel, as well as pollinator friendly plants,’ said Gorey Tidy Towns chairman Billy Halford. ‘We also have bee and butterfly friendly plants in the Magic Compass Garden at Charlotte Row and the picnic area on the Enniscorthy Road, among others.’
He added that the 150 native trees planted at An Choill Draíochta (Magic Wood) on the Coach Road will be important for biodiversity when it is established, and the Heritage Orchard at the Fire Station is also an important attraction for pollinators.
‘We also preserved as much of the wild overgrowth as possible leading up to the Fr Redmond Monument on Gorey Hill, while maintaining access for the public,’ he said. ‘It’s a haven for wildlife and wildflowers up there, and the view at the top is stunning, so it’s well worth a visit.’
Gorey Tidy Towns and Gorey Municipal District have begun recording their pollinator projects on the All Ireland Pollinator Plan interactive map which is available on www.biodiversityireland.ie