The focus of the last couple of weeks has been on getting the website up and running, as well as starting the supporting social media activity. A huge amount of work has been done on our Species Watch section, where we are showcasing some of Ireland’s amazing natural species. We will be adding new species to this every week initially with a short introduction but then, when we have a reasonable body of content, we will go back and add some more detail.
We have other big plans for the website over the coming months including educational resources and also an online shop, hopefully in time for Christmas.
In the meantime, keep an eye on our Twitter feed and you can also subscribe to our newsletter.
Conifer Forestry
If you ever go for a walk in a conifer plantation, you will be amazed by how few birds you can hear. The dense, tightly packed trees allow no light to penetrate to the forest floor meaning that there is no undergrowth to support any diversity of species. This is another example of naked commercial interest in land exploitation overriding approaches that could support a more sustainable model of engagement with nature. Further evidence, if it were needed, why projects like Land for Nature are essential.
There are ways that you can help to support our biodiversity, even if you only have a small area available, like a back garden. Here are a few things you can do:
Put out bird food and water
Plant dense plants that provide cover as well as plants that are good sources of food for insects (including bees).
If you have room you could also plant some fruit trees that will provide valuable food for all sorts of birds later in autumn.
Of course, you can also support the Land for Nature project!
Species Focus: The Corncrake
This newsletter’s species focus is on the Corncrake.
The corncrake is red-listed in Ireland due to severe decline in breeding population. The European population is currently evaluated as depleted due to a large historical decline and, in fact, the corncrake is threatened with global extinction.
The decline of the corncrake is due in most part to intensive farming practices including early mowing to make silage and mechanised hay-making practices which have destroyed nests and driven corncrakes from old habitats. Corncrakes are now confined to areas where difficult terrain precludes the use of machinery.