Nature Notes 21 October 2020

Nature Notes 21 October 2020

Common Frog (c) Eduardo Fernandez

Observations from staff and members on our Nature Reserves this week.

Nature reserves may look completely wild, but our 19 reserves across Northern Ireland are actually carefully managed by a dedicated team. We protect, restore and create a mix of habitats where wildlife can thrive.

Edenderry Nature Reserve

This was last Friday at Edenderry. The team were doing some scrub clearance and some clearance around the big sweet chestnut tree, as some holly and hawthorn were pushing up through its lower limbs. The big limb on the ground will be made into two benches by the Grassroots Challenge Team ~ Deborah McLaughlin

Team at Edenderry

Edenderry (c) Deborah McLaughlin

Bog Meadows Nature Reserve

This common frog was spotted in Bog Meadows earlier this week. Frogs can spawn as early as December depending on the weather. Winter is coming and so are frogs! ~ Eduardo Fernandez, ESC programme

We are also really excited about the upcoming launch of a Community hub at Bog Meadows. Over the next four years we will be working to create a vibrant community hub centred on Bog Meadows Nature Reserve and neighbouring St James Community Farm, thanks to National Lottery funding. The project will strengthen social networks and skills by offering traineeships, volunteering, events and education programmes based around nature, conservation, animal husbandry and gardening - Deborah McLaughlin

Common Frog, Bog Meadows

Common Frog (c) Eduardo Fernandez

Slievenacloy Nature Reserve

Lane Repairs, Slievenacloy

Lane Repairs (c) Ronald Surgenor

Our team has been busy this week doing some lane repairs on Slievenacloy. Access maintenance is an important part of our conservation work and it has to take place in all weather! 

Flowbog road, Slievenacloy

Flowbog road, Slievenacloy (c) Ronald Surgenor

Sadly, it's not all good news. We found this garden shed at the Flowbog road entrance to the nature reserve. Fly-tipping continues to be an issue on this nature reserve 😟 ~Ronald Surgenor