Buncrana Tidy Towns is buzzing again

George McDermott & Colm Grant highlight some measures

being implemented in Buncrana as part of the All-Ireland

Pollinator Plan in August (Photo: Buncrana Tidy Towns)

Buncrana wins ‘Tidy Towns’ Local Authority Pollinator Award

For the second year in a row, Buncrana Tidy Towns has won the regional ‘Tidy Towns’ Local Authority Pollinator Award for the North West & West Region in the Large Town Category for its pollinator project.  The winners were announced at the National Tidy Towns Awards in The Helix, Dublin City University on Monday, September 24. 

Biodiversity management and selective mowing along the

Shore Front, Buncrana

“Since 2016, Local Authority Heritage Offices & Biodiversity Offices in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre have sponsored an annual Local Authority Pollinator Award as part of the ‘Tidy Towns’ competition” explained Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.  “The focus of the award is on biodiversity and the crucial role that the declining population of Irish bees play in the pollination of our plants, trees and vegetables.  The award encourages local groups to implement pollinator-friendly actions in their towns and villages.  The award contributes to the achievement of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.  Among the measures implemented by Buncrana Tidy Towns were mapping of biodiversity areas, selective mowing (including only mowing one-metre deep along roadsides and hedgerows), the planting of pollinator-friendly plants, the erection of signage highlighting areas managed for biodiversity and the delivery of public talks on wildlife.”

The third cut of grass along the Buncrana shorefront in

early August.  The grass is cut on a six-weekly rotation

to allow clovers and bird’s-foot-trefoil to flower providing

food for bees (Photo: Buncrana Tidy Towns)

“One-third of our 99 bee species are threatened with extinction from Ireland” said Juanita Browne, Project Officer with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.  This is because we have drastically reduced the amount of food (wildflowers) and safe nesting sites in our landscapes.  The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan was launched in 2015 as a shared plan of action to try to reverse these declines and work with communities, businesses, parks, schools and farms to make an Ireland where pollinators can survive and thrive.  Bees are our most important pollinators because they rely completely on pollen to feed to their young.  This means they are focused solely on collecting pollen and thereby move pollen from one flower to another.  As our landscapes have become more intensively managed and our roadside verges and parks, gardens more manicured, we have reduced the amount of pollen-rich wildflowers our pollinators have access to. The Pollinator Award rewards communities who are allowing space for nature, allowing wildflowers to grow, reducing pesticide use and providing safe areas for pollinators to nest.”

‘Managed for Wildlife’ sign among pollinator-friendly flowers in

Amazing Grace Park, Buncrana

There was a great response again this year with 67 applications nationwide from 22 counties.  The standard of the applications was very high.  Like the other regional award winners, Buncrana Tidy Towns will collect a €1,000 prize.  There is an annual prize of a national winner and four regional award winners in two categories and other winners included Swords, Ennis, Geashill, Sneem, Tullahought and Killeshandra.  Clonmel, County Tipperary won one of the regional prizes and the overall national prize.  The ‘Tidy Towns’ regional awards ceremonies will also take place in October and November.  For more information, visit www.tidytowns.ie  To find out how you can take actions to help pollinators or to enter the 2019 Pollinator Award, visit www.pollinators.ie