The wildflower meadows of Fermanagh are among the rich heritage of our landscape but they are also part of the United Kingdom’s largest partnership project to save the remaining fragments of species rich grassland.
Minister Michelle O’Neill, with (from left), Giles Knight, monumental meadows officer; Thomas Welsh, farm estate manager; Tom Welsh, local farmer and Patrick McGurn, from the European Forum for Natural and Pastoralism.
The £3 million project called “Save Our Magnificent Meadows” is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with additional funding from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Local charity, the Ulster Wildlife is helping to protect and restore wildflower meadows in Fermanagh and Tyrone.
The Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill last week visited one of the meadows near Monea.
She said: “My Department’s agri-environment schemes aim to improve the countryside landscape with over 9,500 agri-environment scheme participants and more than 370,000 hectares under agreement. This innovative and foresighted project to protect and enhance these special habitats is to be welcomed at a time when old agri-environment schemes are coming to an end and a new one is being developed.
“Grassland hay meadows have been a traditional feature of farming throughout this island and it is important to preserve these rich reservoirs of biodiversity. The Save Our Magnificant Meadows project will contribute to prevent further decline of such areas and complement the ongoing work of DARD’s agri-environment schemes in this area.
Giles Knight, Project Co-ordinator said: “Wildflower meadows are an intrinsic part of our natural and cultural heritage – rich in landscape character, farming, folklore and history.
Sadly, nearly 7.5 million acres of wildflower meadows have been lost to drainage, development and scrub encroachment across the UK. They are still being lost – along with native flowers, threatened pollinators and a host of meadow wildlife and that is why this project, and the positive energy it brings, is so important..”
This initiative will ensure the protection and restoration of two priority grassland habitants in Fermanagh and South West Tyrone, the purple moor grass and rush pasture and lowland meadow.
Ulster Wildlife will be working with local landowners to manage rough grassland, restore species diversity using brush harvested seed and green hay and protect marsh fritillary butterflies, one of Europe’s most endangered species.
The project will also explore cultural important of grasslands to local communities such as how stories and superstitions are integral to the culture of local communities.
To encourage the traditional management of grasslands, interested farmers will be encouraged to interact with local policy makers and Ulster Wildlife hopes that by championing local enthusiasts and farmers, priority grasslands will be given greater priority in planning decisions.
This project will help to fund conservation work to protect over 250 hectares of priority grassland, engaging over 100 farmers and to help them manage them sympathetically.
These grasslands will become key visitor attractions in the future with natural heritage skills supporting training days on brushcutter use, seedbed preparation, species identification.
A number of partners are involved locally including the NIEA, Butterfly Conservation, Fermanagh, Omagh and Dungannon and South Tyrone Councils, the European Forum for Nature and Pastoralism and DARD.
(Source – Impartial Reporter – Brian Donaldson – 25/09/2014)