Omagh community groups become 'Hedgerow Heroes'!
15 March 2010Community groups from across Omagh District are training to become ‘Hedgerow Heroes’ in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity.
Omagh District Council launched the ‘Omagh Hedgerow Heritage Initiative’ with the first hedge planting training session at MACCA resource centre on Saturday 6th March 2010. Cllr McGowan congratulated the participants in taking their first step to becoming Hedgerow Heroes. “Hedgerows are an important part of our heritage, both in farming and in providing much needed habitats for our wildlife. We are delighted with the level of participation in this project and are grateful to Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting it.”
This project is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Omagh District Council. It is part of a larger campaign to protect and enhance Omagh’s biodiversity through the Omagh Local Biodiversity Action Plan.
The Omagh Hedgerow Heritage Initiative engages with community groups throughout the district in a programme of training, learning and activity to educate and raise awareness on the importance of wildlife rich hedgerows for our biodiversity, culture and heritage. The end aim is to plant new hedgerows for the future. Paul Mullan, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund Northern Ireland, congratulated the Council in leading this initiative and in raising awareness about the importance of hedgerows from a landscape, biodiversity and heritage skills training perspective. “This fantastic project will enable the local community to learn about, manage and protect the hedgerows in the district, which are such important natural heritage assets. We hope everyone will enjoy taking part in the range of activities and we wish them well on their quest to become Omagh’s ‘Hedgerow Heroes’“.
Hedgerows are important habitats for a wide variety of wildlife like birds, insects and mammals. For birds, they provide valuable nesting sites, shelter, berries and song posts. Bats rely on hedgerows for flight lines from freshwater bodies to wooded areas and they feed on the insects swarming overhead. And it’s not just the moving wildlife we are interested in. As Julie Corry, Omagh Biodiversity Officer explains “The wealth of wildflowers and plants you can find along a well-managed species-rich hedgerow is amazing. From the spring beauty, the primrose, to old country favourites like foxgloves, red campion and ramsons, the colours and scents can be delightful. We are keen to hear from anyone in the district that knows of such species-rich hedgerows, so we can learn from the best examples out there.”
2010 has also been declared the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations. It is the year that celebrates the diversity of life on Earth, including every plant, animal and micro-organism. So to learn how you can help protect Omagh’s biodiversity or if you know of any species rich hedgerows in your area, contact Julie Corry by telephone on 028 8225 6202 or by email on Julie.corry@omagh.gov.uk