Biodiversity workshop creates quite the buzz
ASHFORD Community and Heritage Centre was the setting for a one-day workshop to support community-led actions for biodiversity and climate change.
Saturday’s ‘Let’s get Buzzing’ event was coordinated jointly by Wicklow County Council’s heritage officer and Environmental Awareness office.
The focus was on practical ‘hands-on actions’ which can be made in the Garden county to improve local biodiversity. The workshop themes were the County Wicklow Swift Recording Project, the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, biodiversity and climate change and exploring and recording your local river.
County Wicklow heritage officer Deirdre Burns and project coordinator Oran O’Sullivan made the presentation on the County Wicklow Swift Project and explained how the public can assist. The presentation also involved a case study of swift recording in Baltinglass and Grangecon.
Environmental officer for Wicklow County Council, Jim Callery explained the role biodiversity can play in combating climate change. Donal O’Keeffe, Local Authorities’ water protection officer, provided information on how to look after your local river.
There was also a presentation on the All Ireland Pollinator Plan by Juanita Browne from the National Biodiversity Data Centre and Deirdre Burns, heritage officer.
Following a break for lunch, participants then paid a visit to the nearby Vartry River to carry out some sampling. They were also brought on a tour of some pollinator-friendly plants.