Biodiversity Northern Ireland

Back Garden Biodiversity

Do you know what wildlife lives in your back garden?  With many of our native habitats increasingly under threat, gardens have become ever more important for the survival of some of our well known species.  The range of 'mini' habitats contained within a garden can support a rich variety of wildlife.  Every garden, however big or small, is a potential nature reserve.  Each garden may not seem significant on its own, but collectively, they can have a major influence on the diversity of wildlife to be found in any given area. 

To help establish what wildlife is to be found in our gardens, Biodiversity Officers across Northern Ireland have joined together to encourage local people to record the species they see in their own garden.  This is part of a larger “Biodiversity Games” recording project which is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, ‘Your Heritage’ Programme, which aims to get people involved in helping their local biodiversity by ‘getting recording’. 

Mark Edgar, Biodiversity Officer with Cookstown, Dungannon and Magherafelt councils explained, “We know gardens are a valuable habitat for a wide variety of species, but just how important they are, can only be assessed by knowing what is there.  Every record of any species using your garden will help build a better picture of how our local biodiversity is faring.” 

Mark continued, “Through this project we will be looking at a range of species, but in relation to garden wildlife, we will have a particular focus on ladybirds, bumblebees, and butterflies and moths.  Identification sheets are available to help ‘recorders’ recognize the various species most likely to be found.  We are asking people to spend a few minutes exploring their gardens and taking a note of the wildlife they see - then let us know what they find.  It is likely that at least a few people will turn up something that hasn’t been recorded from their area before.”

To get the project underway, Catherine Bertrand from Butterfly Conservation NI will be giving a presentation on “Back Garden Butterflies and Moths” at the South West College, Cookstown, on Wednesday 23^rd May at 7:30pm.  Following this, people will be encouraged to see what moths they can find in their own gardens that night and bring them along to get identified the next morning at the “Moth Reveal” at Drum Manor Forest Park on Thursday 24^th May, from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. 

If you would like to get involved with this recording project, and learn more about the wildlife that can be found in your garden, Mark would be delighted to see you at these events.  If you can’t make it, but would still like to take part in the project, please contact Mark directly. 

For further information on these events, or if you are interested in the Mid Ulster Biodiversity Project in general, please contact:   Mark Edgar, Biodiversity Officer, Cookstown, Magherafelt and Dungannon & South Tyrone councils.  Please phone relevant council, or Mob: 07717732034 or e-mail: mark.edgar@dungannon.gov.uk