NATURE AND biodiversity in your locality
AN DÚNRA AGUS BITHÉAGSÚLACHT I DO ÁITIÚIL
This category is focused on the importance of raising understanding and awareness of the natural amenities in our area, including any aspects that make Glaslough important for conservation (e.g. waterways, field boundaries, coastal features). An appreciation of how species and habitats should be best protected and managed. It is our goal to provide evidence of good co-operation with expert groups ad relevant authorities, especially in carrying out work and projects in sensitive areas. The provision of access to natural areas and interpretation of key aspects is equally important.
All of the projects listed below are linked to our Multi-annual plant 2015-2018 and based on identified areas for either protection, maintenance or development works and projects. In 2010 consultants carried out a Habitat Survey for Glaslough and from this a Map was developed. This provided much need information that contributed to the Wildlife, Habitat and Natural Amenity Plan section of our Multi-Annual Plan. Some of the main areas of focus are Habitat maintenance, protection and development.
All of the projects listed below are linked to our Multi-annual plant 2015-2018 and based on identified areas for either protection, maintenance or development works and projects. In 2010 consultants carried out a Habitat Survey for Glaslough and from this a Map was developed. This provided much need information that contributed to the Wildlife, Habitat and Natural Amenity Plan section of our Multi-Annual Plan. Some of the main areas of focus are Habitat maintenance, protection and development.

a3_habitat_survey_mappdf.pdf |
Fruit tree planting in the edible forest
Pictured below are some of the new trees that have been being planted to create and edible forest as part of the All Ireland Pollinator Projects to boost Pollination in our area
A guide to growing Ireland Native trees in celebration of a new
millenniumhttp://www.treecouncil.ie/pdfs/Our%20Trees_A%20guide%20to%20growing%20Ireland's%20Native%20Trees-June%2008.pdf
Native Irish Trees --- List of Trees Native to Ireland
by GPI
http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about69.html
millennium
Native Irish Trees --- List of Trees Native to Ireland
by GPI
http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about69.html
Glaslough Tree Trail (Hoey's Trail)
Approx 3km
St Mary's Seed Collection and Planting
Glaslough Kids start the Glaslough Tree story
see gallery below
Glaslough Tidy Towns have been successful with the National Tidy Towns competition awards over the years and this year won the County Award and the Silver Medal in the national competition being only a few small points behind the national winner of Abbeyshrule. Over the coming year they will turn their attention to one of their most common but valued natural heritage features of the area – Glaslough’s trees. The group are planning and delivering a range of talks, workshops and events for all members of the community starting with a tree seed collection and planting by the local schools. The calendar of events will all be focused on some aspect of trees from tree identification to wildlife and trees to the economic uses of trees. Stay in touch with the website updates for more news of Glaslough’s Tree Story. In addition their fabulous new plastic bottle greenhouse will be used for the first time.
On a national basis, one of the objectives of the 2011 – 2016 National Biodiversity Action Plans asks for an increase in awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems services. (Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht).
The Glaslough Tree story opens with Chapter 1 - Collecting local tree seed:
Ireland tree cover currently stands at 10% however this originally was 1% back in 1900 http://www.ifsam.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=59 . Over 6,000 years ago much of Ireland was covered by ash, oak, elm, alder, pine and birch. By 1900 most of our native woodlands were lost and this in turn put severe pressure on other woodland species. In recent years through various government initiatives, environmental organisations and community efforts the tide is turning and trees and woodlands are being re-instated and enlarged.
Being an island for the last 10,000 years or so, our native species have evolved over time to adapt to our local environments. Growing native plants from locally sourced seed to planting will help ensure plants are suitable for the local environment. This is referred to local provenance seed. Glaslough seed grows best in Glaslough.
The growing and planting of native healthy stock is currently receiving national (and European) importance due to the discovery of a lethal ash tree disease causing havoc in European ash woods. It has now been discovered on a site in Leitrim. The use of imported ash trees from an unknown unhealthy stock has put the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on high alert. http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/10/chalara-disease-found-in-young-ash-trees/
What are we collecting?
These are some of the trees around the village. While some of these trees are not native to Ireland, it is still recognized that they can support local biodiversity. Small mammals and birds feast on the berries and nuts, the early flowers of some of the trees are valuable for bees and other insects. The following tree seeds have been collected:
· Oak - Quercus robur
· Beech – Fagus sylvatica
· Sycamore – Acer pseudoplatanus
· Horse Chestnut – Aesculus hippocastanum
· Ash – Fraxinus excelsior
· Holly – Ilex aquifolium
Where are we planting?
Over 2,000 plastic bottles were collected and modified to build this greenhouse. Its simple construction involved threading the bottles onto bamboo canes with the support of a wooden structure. The Tidy Towns judge said the bottle greenhouse was “extraordinary and highly commendable”. It was also acknowledged in 2011 that Glaslough does well in the waste minimisation area of which this project supports – landfilling of plastic bottles still continues.
Once ready to plant out, these young trees will be used for planting in the local areas including the Glaslough biodiversity garden, local park, schools’ grounds and other community areas and private gardens.
Plastic recycling
It was estimated that 482,366 tonnes of plastic waste was generated throughout Ireland. Land fill is still at a very high level and with 71% of plastics going to landfill. It is acknowledged that every year the recycling rates improve driven by various policy measures here and in the North which is led by EU initiatives. A small but growing percentage goes to reprocessing facilities for energy recovery or recycling into other products.
The manufacturing of plastics approximately requires 8% of world oil production of which 4% is used directly in the product and the remaining 3-4% is needed as an energy resource to drive the production process. By landfilling vast quantities of plastics we are basically landfilling the built in resources that went into the manufacturing of the product. The importance of recycling, re-using and indeed reducing our reliance on plastics becomes evident.
However it is acknowledged that much of our recyclables especially our plastics are exported to other countries for processing. This in turn increases carbon emissions attached to our use of plastics. In 2009 about 30% of plastics were reprocessed here on the island of Ireland.
http://www.rx3.ie/MDGUploadedFiles/file/Knowlege%20Centre/rx3_article_CIWM_August%202012.pdf
Recycling Plastic Bottles
The benefits are manifold although there are arguments that we need to reduce our dependency on plastics altogether.
1. Conservation of oil – 3.8 barrels of petroleum are saved when we recycle a ton of plastic bottles
2. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Using the recovered plastic elements regained from recycling is of benefit by reducing the amount of virgin material used.
3. Our landfills are filling up fast and plastic bottles take up a lot of space! 6.7 cubic meters can be saved by removing millions of bottles from the waste stream and into the reduce and reuse streams of waste management.
4. It takes at least 500 years for plastic to break down.
5. Energy conservation. It is known that by recycling water and soft drinks bottles, approximately 12,000 British Thermal Unit’s can be saved
http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/recyclingplasticbottles/
On a national basis, one of the objectives of the 2011 – 2016 National Biodiversity Action Plans asks for an increase in awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems services. (Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht).
The Glaslough Tree story opens with Chapter 1 - Collecting local tree seed:
Ireland tree cover currently stands at 10% however this originally was 1% back in 1900 http://www.ifsam.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=59 . Over 6,000 years ago much of Ireland was covered by ash, oak, elm, alder, pine and birch. By 1900 most of our native woodlands were lost and this in turn put severe pressure on other woodland species. In recent years through various government initiatives, environmental organisations and community efforts the tide is turning and trees and woodlands are being re-instated and enlarged.
Being an island for the last 10,000 years or so, our native species have evolved over time to adapt to our local environments. Growing native plants from locally sourced seed to planting will help ensure plants are suitable for the local environment. This is referred to local provenance seed. Glaslough seed grows best in Glaslough.
The growing and planting of native healthy stock is currently receiving national (and European) importance due to the discovery of a lethal ash tree disease causing havoc in European ash woods. It has now been discovered on a site in Leitrim. The use of imported ash trees from an unknown unhealthy stock has put the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on high alert. http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/10/chalara-disease-found-in-young-ash-trees/
What are we collecting?
These are some of the trees around the village. While some of these trees are not native to Ireland, it is still recognized that they can support local biodiversity. Small mammals and birds feast on the berries and nuts, the early flowers of some of the trees are valuable for bees and other insects. The following tree seeds have been collected:
· Oak - Quercus robur
· Beech – Fagus sylvatica
· Sycamore – Acer pseudoplatanus
· Horse Chestnut – Aesculus hippocastanum
· Ash – Fraxinus excelsior
· Holly – Ilex aquifolium
Where are we planting?
Over 2,000 plastic bottles were collected and modified to build this greenhouse. Its simple construction involved threading the bottles onto bamboo canes with the support of a wooden structure. The Tidy Towns judge said the bottle greenhouse was “extraordinary and highly commendable”. It was also acknowledged in 2011 that Glaslough does well in the waste minimisation area of which this project supports – landfilling of plastic bottles still continues.
Once ready to plant out, these young trees will be used for planting in the local areas including the Glaslough biodiversity garden, local park, schools’ grounds and other community areas and private gardens.
Plastic recycling
It was estimated that 482,366 tonnes of plastic waste was generated throughout Ireland. Land fill is still at a very high level and with 71% of plastics going to landfill. It is acknowledged that every year the recycling rates improve driven by various policy measures here and in the North which is led by EU initiatives. A small but growing percentage goes to reprocessing facilities for energy recovery or recycling into other products.
The manufacturing of plastics approximately requires 8% of world oil production of which 4% is used directly in the product and the remaining 3-4% is needed as an energy resource to drive the production process. By landfilling vast quantities of plastics we are basically landfilling the built in resources that went into the manufacturing of the product. The importance of recycling, re-using and indeed reducing our reliance on plastics becomes evident.
However it is acknowledged that much of our recyclables especially our plastics are exported to other countries for processing. This in turn increases carbon emissions attached to our use of plastics. In 2009 about 30% of plastics were reprocessed here on the island of Ireland.
http://www.rx3.ie/MDGUploadedFiles/file/Knowlege%20Centre/rx3_article_CIWM_August%202012.pdf
Recycling Plastic Bottles
The benefits are manifold although there are arguments that we need to reduce our dependency on plastics altogether.
1. Conservation of oil – 3.8 barrels of petroleum are saved when we recycle a ton of plastic bottles
2. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Using the recovered plastic elements regained from recycling is of benefit by reducing the amount of virgin material used.
3. Our landfills are filling up fast and plastic bottles take up a lot of space! 6.7 cubic meters can be saved by removing millions of bottles from the waste stream and into the reduce and reuse streams of waste management.
4. It takes at least 500 years for plastic to break down.
5. Energy conservation. It is known that by recycling water and soft drinks bottles, approximately 12,000 British Thermal Unit’s can be saved
http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/recyclingplasticbottles/