Over €63,000 funding for biodiversity projects in Laois was allocated by Minister Malcolm Noonan through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund.
The Laois Wetland Survey continued, with field survey underway by consultant ecologists Wetland Surveys Ireland of these crucially important sites for biodiversity and climate change.
Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey, Patrick Crushell, Wetland Surveys Ireland; Barbara Bermingham, Anna Rothwell and Willie Crowley, Wetland Surveys Ireland at the Ridge of Capard for the Wetlands of Laois Walk.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Laois County Council awareness-raising campaign on Midlands 103 radio continued in partnership with Offaly and Westmeath County Councils;
Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council said “We were delighted to work with the Irish Wildlife Trust Laois/Offaly Branch on a project to install next boxes for birds and roost boxes for bats as well as some community awareness-raising at Timahoe Monastic Site. We were also delighted that additional funding made available this year allowed us to work in partnership with the Laois County Council Environmental Awareness office and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce to deliver an Choill Bheag, tiny native woodlands at three Portlaoise School campuses (Holy Family campus, Scoil Bhríde and Summerhill Campus) and at Laois Education Centre, as part of the Portlaosie Low-Carbon own initiative.”
Full details of all biodiversity projects funded nationally by Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are here
Ricky Whelan and Anne Sundermann of Irish Wildlife Trust Laois Offaly Branch planning biodiversity enhancement at Timahoe Monastic Site