This day last week was a significant milestone for us here at Veri Connect. It marked the finale to our long running training programme which was delivered to staff from ESB, Ireland’s foremost energy company since it was established in 1927. Over 70 ESB employees volunteered to take part in the Sustainability Navigators programme which is a part of ESB’s greater strategy to make the organisation more sustainable. This was accompanied by Sustainability Essentials programme, a suite of e-Learning tools that was launched during Biodiversity Week and saw 4000 units being completed by staff members across ESB within the first 8 days of being released! 

The training for the Sustainability Navigators, which was delivered by Dr. Amanda Greer began all the way back in November of last year. Since then participants have learned all about topics like the social and environmental consequences of Climate Change, greenhouse gas emissions, the road to net zero, the circular economy , sustainable procurement & supply chain management and biodiversity & nature net positive. Along the way various subject matter experts joined the sessions as guest speakers to ensure participants got the greatest insights into the subject with the most cutting edge information available.

Last Thursday’s session was all about biodiversity and about being nature net positive. We started the day at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone where Amanda and our guest speaker for the day Alan Sullivan of Rivus gave a brilliant breakdown of the current state of biodiversity in Ireland and some of the ways that ESB are trying to help address some of the issues they have come across in this regard. As this was to be the last day of training, participants were treated to a site visit where we attended a power station located just south of Athlone town in Shannonbridge County Offaly. 

Sitting on the banks of the River Shannon at the edge of the Shannon Callows an important area for wildlife conservation (designated both an SAC and SPA), this site carries a lot of history being used as a large peat fired plant which was still operational up until 2020. Since 2022, the site has been under construction with a lot of work underway.  The field session was delivered by our very own ecologists Kieran Cowhig and Yosef Dvores with help from ESB’s in-house ecologist Geoff Hamilton.

The message for the day was really about appreciating the importance of biodiversity and the value it provides that we often take for granted. We explored how the smallest of spaces, given a chance, can become havens for wildlife like the swallows nesting in an old disused pump house or the otters that frequent the rocks overlooking the outflow channel at the edge of the site. It is often in the least suspecting places where you can find the greatest surprises. This was perfectly demonstrated by the discovery of a rare bee orchid by one of the ecologists, which was hiding amongst the vegetation of a mostly unremarkable roadside verge.   

Participants were introduced to some of the efforts being made by ESB at the site to support biodiversity in the area from wildflower meadows to Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon nesting boxes as well as areas being set aside for biodiversity to recolonise. We also acknowledged some mistakes that have been made in the past and how ESB has tried to rectify them. Some participants even had the chance to rescue some oak sapling which had sprouted in an area due to be mown in just a few short weeks.  

We have received great feedback throughout the programme and the engagement at each of the training sessions has been fantastic, a testament to the enthusiasm and commitment of the ESB staff to be part of the solution. We have immensely enjoyed being part of this process and although the programme is now completed, the journey is just beginning for the navigators who will go forth leading the way as ESB attempt to become a more sustainable organisation. While we part ways with ESB for now I am sure we have made friends for life as we all stand together, shoulder to shoulder and strive for a brighter tomorrow.    

Celebrating a Major Milestone: The Finale of Our Training Program with ESB

Last week was a significant milestone for us here at Veri Connect. It marked the culmination of our long-running training programme with ESB, Ireland’s foremost energy company, established in 1927. Over 70 ESB employees volunteered for the Sustainability Navigators program, part of ESB’s broader strategy to enhance sustainability within the organisation. Alongside this, the Sustainability Essentials programme, an e-learning suite launched during Biodiversity Week, saw 4000 units completed by ESB staff within the first eight days!

Dr. Amanda Greer began the training for the Sustainability Navigators back in November. Since then, participants have delved into various critical topics, including the social and environmental impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, the path to net zero, the circular economy, sustainable procurement, supply chain management, and biodiversity & nature net positive. Guest speakers joined along the way, providing cutting-edge insights and expert knowledge.

The Grand Finale: A Day Dedicated to Biodiversity

Last Thursday, we focused on biodiversity and being nature net positive. The day started at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone, where Amanda and our guest speaker, Alan Sullivan of Rivus, gave an enlightening overview of Ireland’s biodiversity status and ESB’s initiatives to address related issues. To mark the last day of training, participants visited a power station just south of Athlone in Shannonbridge, County Offaly.

The site, located on the banks of the River Shannon at the edge of the Shannon Callows (an important area for wildlife conservation), holds a rich history as a large peat-fired plant operational until 2020. Since 2022, the site has been undergoing significant construction. Our field session was led by ecologists Kieran Cowhig and Yosef Dvores, with support from ESB’s in-house ecologist, Geoff Hamilton.

Appreciating the Importance of Biodiversity

The day’s message was about appreciating biodiversity’s often-overlooked value. We explored how even the smallest spaces can become wildlife havens, like the swallows nesting in an old pump house or the otters that frequent the rocks overlooking the outflow channel to the edge of the site. A perfect demonstration of nature’s surprises was the discovery of a rare bee orchid hidden among roadside vegetation.

Participants learned about ESB’s efforts to support biodiversity, from wildflower meadows to Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon nesting boxes, and areas set aside for biodiversity to recolonize. We also acknowledged past mistakes and ESB’s efforts to rectify them. Some participants even had the chance to rescue oak saplings from an area that was due to be mown in the following few days.

Reflecting on a Successful Journey

The feedback throughout the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the enthusiasm and commitment of ESB staff to be part of the solution. We have immensely enjoyed being part of this journey. While the programme has concluded, the journey for the navigators is just beginning as they lead ESB towards a more sustainable future. As we part ways with ESB for now, we know we have made friends for life, standing together for a brighter tomorrow.

As we begin to leave behind the wetter, colder months of the year, many of us are now beginning to venture outside once more, becoming closer to the natural world around us. The bees are busy back at work pollinating, the Hawthorn trees are now in full bloom and the main Salmon run is underway in many of our rivers.  It’s a great time of year to be an ecologist! 

Wildlife, nature  or,  as it is most often called today, biodiversity, is the variety of life that lives on this planet. Biodiversity provides us with so many benefits, known as  ecosystem services, that we often overlook. Where would we be if it were not for the pollinators doing the hard work to ensure we have abundant supplies of food?  How long would we last if it were not for the plants that produce the oxygen we breathe?  (how long can you hold your breath?) Every day biodiversity provides us so many services that we often take for granted. 

It is important that as a society we take a moment now and then to tip our hats to biodiversity and reflect on all it gives us. This week is the perfect opportunity to do just this as National Biodiversity Week is upon us. Kicking off on the 17th May, the programme runs until the 26th May with a schedule jam packed with free and exciting events all across the country aiming to bring you closer to nature.

As I read through the list of events, I am reminded of many of the courses I have been involved with creating and delivering with Veri Connect over the years. As we all reflect on nature this week. I am taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate I have been to be able to do what I love, teaching people about nature.   

This is always a busy time  of year for us at Veri Connect as we gear up to deliver biodiversity courses to communities all across the country. My role as a trainer started a few years ago with a water biodiversity course we ran in Connemara with the help of Forum Connemara and LAWPRO. That course was a huge success where we trained 220 community members in relation to water biodiversity and water quality. It laid the foundations for the many courses that were to follow. Since then we have grown as a team and have gone on to work on some amazing projects. 

We have worked with 19 Leader companies across the country delivering training to communities in relation to  sustainability, terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, invasive species management and seed saving. We worked on a first of its kind project called Wild Work which trained 1000 online users and 600 blended learners (in person and online) in Cavan, West Limerick,  and South and West Cork. This hugely ambitious project trained participants in biodiversity ,citizen science, wellbeing and community engagement through experiential learning. In 2023  we adapted this style of experiential training for 5^th and 6^th class students in schools across county Cork.   

In response to growing climate change concerns, we created our own Lantra accredited course Climate Action 101 which was designed to help businesses understand the various environmental challenges we face today and guide them to take actions that will have real impact. It has been a great success so far with businesses such as Red Mills, CF Pharma, Danske Bank, New Park hotel all passing through the programme. We have also worked with the Local Authorities nation-wide to deliver training to outdoor staff on Climate Action. In recent times we have worked with ESB to develop and deliver their Advanced Sustainability program to train their staff, 6000 users online and 300 leadership team members, in topics like Climate Change literacy, sustainability in the workplace, circular economy, sustainable procurement and supply chain. 

Those are just some of the big projects we have had the pleasure of working on over the last few years and we are still helping our clients to push the boundaries with new course concepts such as the very popular rainwater harvesting course which drew big crowds in Louth earlier this year or the upcoming course working with Churches in DLR who have asked parishes to set aside 30% of their land for rewilding and other environmental projects aimed at supporting biodiversity. It has been a great journey over this last few years and I can’t wait to see where we end up next.

If you would like our help to get your projects up and running, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can also check out our training hub to see what kind of training we offer. If you would like to learn more about events running during national biodiversity week check out this link here

Resources https://biodiversityweek.ie

Ireland’s biodiversity is the magic that makes this beautiful island what it is, providing us with a wealth of resources for the tourism sector including wonderful scenic landscapes, rivers and lakes, forests and woodlands, habitats, plants and animals. Ireland offers a unique experience to tourists because of our biodiversity and the natural landscape.

Biodiversity is at the heart of our tourism industry here in Northern Ireland. In a Visitor Attitudes Survey in 2006, 80% of visitors rated Ireland’s scenery as a primary reason for visiting Ireland, with 74% stating that they were attracted by the natural unspoilt environment. The People in the Outdoors Monitor for Northern Ireland has highlighted over £900 million was spent during visits to the outdoors in 2020/21.

So how is our biodiversity doing? Here are some alarming statistics:

➔ Northern Ireland is ranked 12th worst out of 240 countries for biodiversity loss

➔ 12% of all wildlife is threatened with extinction

➔ Across the UK, 41% of species have decreased since 1970

The 2023 State of Nature Report shows pressures are coming from all angles. Changes in land use management, invasive alien species, pollution and climate change are among the big drivers highlighted. It is vital that we protect this resource at all costs and begin to turn the tide on this decline. In many cases, tourism businesses are the stewards of our wild places. You know these places intimately and if you are old enough, you may have even noticed the decline for yourself. We all play a role in its decline and every business can do their bit to help restore our precious biodiversity.  

As well as being important to biodiversity, water also plays a major role in our tourism industry. Whether it’s spending a day kayaking at Strangford Lough, fishing in Lough Neagh, surfing the West Strand at Portrush or going for a stroll along the banks of Lower Bann, water is a resource we often take for granted. Under the Water Framework Directive, Northern Ireland is required to get all its water bodies up to at least ‘Good Status’ by 2027. The clock is ticking and despite this looming deadline only 31% of rivers, 14% of lakes and 40% of Northern Ireland’s transitional and coastal water bodies are achieving this minimum requirement. 

Today, our Ecologist Kieran Cowhig delivered Phase 2 of the webinar in collaboration with Tourism Northern Ireland as part of their Leaner Greener Series. This webinar titled Threats to Biodiversity in Northern Ireland is designed to show you proven ways your tourism business can help address the issues highlighted above. The webinar covers topic like:

➔  Invasive Species on your Premises and in our Waters

➔  Water Quality and Tourism

➔  Water Conservation for Tourism Businesses

➔  Sustainable Drainage Systems 

If you are interested in learning more you can view this free webinar here.

With all the talk about aliens in the news lately you definitely might have some questions. It might, however, be a surprise for you to learn that aliens have been here in Ireland now for decades. While they may not take the form you might expect (or come from outer space either), aliens are a very big problem here in Ireland. Known as Invasive Alien Species (IAS), these are animals, plants, pathogens or other living things that would not naturally occur in Ireland but have arrived here as a result of human activity. Upon introduction, they become established and begin to thrive which can have many negative impacts such as outcompeting our native wildlife, disrupting the natural balances of ecosystems and even affecting our way of life and economy. Invasive Species live among us and spreading awareness about them is key to preventing their invasion from spreading.

Back in 2013 a team attempting to work out the economic cost of invasive species and non-native species in Ireland and Northern Ireland estimated the total IAS costs for the Republic of Ireland were at €203 million per year (Kelly et al., 2013). This was a decade ago and with the introduction of many new species since then, this is very likely a massive underestimation of their present day cost. More recently a new economic analysis released in 2021 suggests the situation is far worse. The authors said “should successful management interventions not be introduced, the costs to Ireland of IAS will rise to €26.5 billion per year by 2030 for all IAS” (Lucy et al., 2021)

I recently helped to deliver a course to communities in west Limerick around the management of IAS. I have compiled some tips for individuals looking to get involved with the fight against invasive species.

Invasive Species Tips

Make a site-specific management plan

As the old saying goes “fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. This could not be more true when it comes to working with invasive species. Invasive aliens are very resilient and pervasive. They don’t want to go away and so they have various strategies to ensure their survival. To ensure that you have the best chance of eradicating an invasive species, it is essential that you have a plan in place that spans at least 5 years, laying out the steps you need to take. There have been countless cases around the country where great work was initially carried out in the removal of an IAS only to then be followed by a lapse of time where the area was not being monitored. This resulted in the IAS coming back stronger than ever and in some cases even developing resistance to the treatment being used!  This can be very frustrating and disheartening to a group considering how labour intensive the work can be in the early stages of treatment. Among other things, your plan should also take into account the invasive species infestation within the context of the greater catchment. Invasive Species often grow along rivers, such is the case with Giant Hogweed. If you were to treat Giant Hogweed in your town without checking the extent of its presence upstream in the catchment, all of your work could be in vain. Giant hogweed spreads by way of the large flower heads at the top of its stalk. Just one flower head alone can hold as many as 5000 seeds and one plant capable of holding up to 50,000 viable seeds! If a giant hogweed plant was present upstream of your town and was not being managed many of these seeds will fall into the river where some will inevitably end up being washed up on the banks of the river where you are working so hard to remove the plant.  This highlights the importance of my next point.

Join or start a group- Collaboration is key.

While you might be all enthusiastic about treating invasive species right now. To ensure longevity, it is crucial that you link up with your community. No one person will beat this problem by themselves, we need to join forces. There are of course many benefits to this too. By linking up with your community or other community groups we can share ideas and learn from the experiences of others who might be a bit further down the path than we are. It can also become a sort of a social event and a great chance to meet like-minded people. Organising an event to deal with invasive species like Balsam Bashing can draw big numbers and also has a certain feel-good factor too as you can visibly see the fruit of your labour. Many times, groups will head for a coffee or even a pint after these sessions and can even be the beginnings of forming a bigger more social group. As mentioned above, if you are working alongside a river, as many groups will be, it is always worthwhile to check if there are groups working up and downstream of you.  Sometimes groups may even share labour to help you as we all work towards a common goal.

Know what is within your sphere of influence

Some invasive species are tricky to deal with. Improper management can actually exacerbate the problem. Some species will require professional attention due to their resilient or dangerous nature. The methods used to manage them are just not available to members of the public due to the nuance involved in their effective treatment. Sometimes they are just too dangerous, such is the case with Giant hogweed (see below). Pick species that community groups have a proven track record in successfully managing. Regardless of the species involved, recording and mapping their presence will always provide invaluable to those who can manage invasive species.

Record and map their presence

A simple yet very effective step that you can carry out is to make a map of the extent of invasive species in your area. This step is essential before you begin work to manage IAS. Understanding how pervasive a species might be, will often determine how you go about managing it. It may also guide you as to where might be the best place to begin works. Even if you don’t intend to manage IAS yourself, mapping and sharing records of their presence can be really helpful to our local authorities. By mapping or recording them every year we can see how quickly they might be spreading or how effective a treatment might have been. This can help drive decisions about which species should be focused on first. Mapping and recording are also key parts of your site-specific management plan. Remember, that which gets measured, gets managed!  You can share any records you make on the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s website(https://records.biodiversityireland.ie/start-recording).

Follow biosecurity measures

One of the best ways you can help to tackle invasive species is to prevent their introduction into a habitat in the first place. While this might seem like I am stating the obvious, you would be shocked by how often this step is overlooked. If you like gardening, try to buy native plants where possible, they will also help support our native wildlife much more too. Before you buy exotic plants, check to see if it is an invasive species (you can do this by going to invasives.ie).  Never take a slip of a plant while away on foreign holiday, while they may look lovely and harmless, back in Irish habitats they may be extremely invasive and damaging to native wildlife. It can be hard to believe but there have been cases where known IAS were still available for purchase in garden centres and were still being recommended by prominent gardeners while works to manage their spread were ongoing. Never release your pets into the wild; they can end up in ponds or spreading into local habitats disrupting the balance of local ecosystems. They may not stay local either and in some cases have been known to spread across the entire country. Did you know that the introduction of the Grey Squirrel, which has decimated our own native Red Squirrel can be traced back to a single event. In 1911, a wedding present from the Duke of Buckingham, a basket of American Grey Squirrels were ceremoniously released onto the grounds of Castle Forbes in Co. Longford. While the activity may have at the time seem innocent enough, these handful of squirrels were the first of their kind in Ireland and went on to colonise much of this island. There are three steps to always consider when you are out and about. Check, Clean, Dry. To learn more about this check this article here about biosecurity protocols.

Work with the relevant authorities

Invasive species are not picky about where they establish. Oftentimes you may find yourself dealing with a large infestation within the boundaries of a protected area such as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or a Special Protected Area (SPA). These sites are protected due to the rarity and or sensitive nature of habitats and wildlife found within them. If we are not careful and take into consideration the nature of these sites, treating invasive species could actually have a seriously harmful impact on the native wildlife. IAS can also establish alongside or within rivers which may have spawning grounds of fish like Atlantic Salmon nearby. Using the wrong treatment here could be devastating to local fish stocks. For this reason, it is always advised to consult with Inland Fisheries Ireland and LAWPRO whenever you work along rivers (You can find out who your local Community water officer is by looking on this webpage here(https://lawaters.ie/team/communities-team/#filter=*)) To find out about the location of Ireland’s protected sites you can look on NPWS.ie(https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites) or contact your local wildlife ranger. They can also give you guidance about how best to proceed.

Study your opponent

Understanding your opponent can mean the difference between success and failure. There are so many factors to consider when choosing how to tackle an invasive species. Understanding the different stages of its lifecycle, what type of habitat does it originate from, does it have natural predators? How does it interact with other species? What means does it use to spread? For example, when working with Himalayan Balsam, it is crucial that you begin work to remove it before it goes to seed. This plant spreads by way of its exploding seed pods. Triggered by motion, the explosion can send seeds up to six metres away!   If you do your work while they are present, you could actually make the infestation worse and end up helping its spread.  Another common invasive species, Giant hogweed can also be very dangerous to work with. Without proper PPE you could get seriously injured with severe rashes which will repeatedly erupt for up to 3 years in some cases.  By knowing your opponent. you can then decide how best to approach it. Is it best to treat it chemically, physically or biologically? When is the best time of year to approach works? All of this will determine how successful you will be in the long run and will make sure that you don’t end up causing more harm than good.

If you or a community group you are involved with are interested in learning more about how to manage local invasive species you could apply to your local Development Company for funding to run invasive species training . This way you can learn the ins and outs of how to successfully survey your community and write up your very own IAS management plan. The beauty of applying for funding this way is that it is 100% funded  so there is no need for you to match fund.You can find out who your local development company by viewing the ILDN members directory on this webpage here (https://ildn.ie/directory/local-development-companies-map/)           

Links in article

https://records.biodiversityireland.ie/start-recording

https://lawaters.ie/team/communities-team/#filter=*

https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites

References

Kelly, J., Tosh, D., Dale, K. & Jackson, A. (2013). The economic cost of invasive and non-native species in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Report to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Available online: https://invasivespeciesireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Economic_Impact_Assessment_FINAL_280313.pdf

Lucy, F., Caffrey, J. & Dick, J.(2021) Invasive alien species in the Republic of Ireland: Policy recommendations for their management . Report for the Water Forum Available online: https://thewaterforum.ie/app/uploads/2021/12/Lucy-et-al.-Invasive-Alien-Species-Report_Policy-Recommendations-for-their-Management.pdf

TidyTowns and Biodiversity– How communities are doing their part to help protect Ireland’s Biodiversity   

Today the TidyTowns competition is one of the most recognised and celebrated community environmental initiatives in Ireland. Few are aware that the history of Ireland’s national TidyTowns initiative dates back to 1958 when it was launched by Fáilte Ireland, who back then went by the name of Bord Fáilte. At this time Ireland had a nationwide festival known as Tostal, the focus of which was to celebrate all things Irish. TidyTowns was introduced as a part of this festival. The TidyTowns initiative was the natural evolution of the National Spring Clean Campaign which ran throughout the early to mid 50’s. With just 52 towns entering the competition in its inaugural year, the competition quickly grew in popularity and today an average of 700 entrants are recorded each year. 

From its beginning, what was the aim of this initiative? The goal was simple; to encourage communities to look after and improve their local environment and to make their own space a better place to live in. TidyTowns wanted to increase participation nationally while also raising the standards of  all participating communities. The competition side of the initiative was instrumental in helping them to achieve this. It helped to create friendly rivalries between communities and raised the bar as groups would learn from one another’s entries and try to implement the projects in their own areas. It’s sort of like the saying; A rising tide lifts all boats. While the foundation of TidyTowns is the national competition, the heart of TidyTowns is the spirit it instils in its participants. An ethos of work ethic, community and fostering a love for one’s place. 

Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of people have been involved with TidyTowns all across the country in some way, shape or form. In the absence of volunteers, Tidytowns would have never become what it is today, without the generosity of the ordinary people who spend countless hours of their time to enrich the space around them. Community involvement, engagement and cooperation and having a strategic and systematic approach to activities are key to doing well in the TidyTowns competition. TidyTowns is not just restricted to towns however, areas of all sizes can take part under different classes. Since the very first winners, Glenties, Co Donegal, the focus of TidyTowns has always been participation over competition and this has led to the long and successful history of the initiative.  

 

From its name, you might imagine that TidyTowns is all about cleaning up your surrounding area. When you think of TidyTowns, images of neatly cut lawns, freshly painted buildings and well weeded ornamental flower beds and hanging baskets may spring to mind. At its core however, TidyTowns is about doing things properly. This means well planned out projects, proper maintenance of buildings and amenities spaces, natural and man-made. A respect for natural space and biodiversity is foremost to this.

In 2007 the running of the competition was taken over by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. With this change came a drastic shift in the structure and focus of the competition.  The scoring system received an overhaul, increasing the total count from 300 to 400 points. Within this, one of the biggest changes was the emphasis on the ‘Wildlife and Natural Amenities’ category which saw its scoring increase by 67%, from 30 to 50 points.    

TidyTowns has evolved over the years to reflect best practices when it comes to issues relating to the environment and today you can see project being rolled out across the country such as wildflower meadows, butterfly patches, native and wildlife friendly planting, wildlife signage, putting up specially designed boxes for bat, bird and insects, and keeping ivy on stone walls. This means TidyTowns and biodiversity are a match made in heaven.

Today, TidyTowns is organised by the Department Rural and Community Development, who are responsible for the initiative with the help of the national sponsor SuperValu as well as a number of other organisations who sponsor the special awards. For the main competition, communities are judged through 8 categories with a possible total score of 470 points. The categories are:

• Community – Your planning & involvement
• Streetscape & Public Places
• Green Spaces and landscaping
• Nature & Biodiversity in your Locality 
• Sustainability – Doing more with less
• Tidiness & Litter control 
• Residential Streets & Housing Areas
• Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes

 

Between 2000 and 2015 the United Nations developed a framework to guide global development. Known as the Millennium Development Goals, the framework set out 8 key targets. Some of these included reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and eradicating world hunger. Following on from the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were adopted by 193 UN member states with a series of ambitious targets which fall within 17 overarching goals. Many of these goals have been aligned by TidyTowns to their 8 categories. For more detailed information on the SDGs you can check out this website here:   https://sdgs.un.org/goals

TidyTowns and Biodiversity

Today, the category of Nature & Biodiversity in your Locality is worth a total of 55 points. This alone emphasises the importance of considering TidyTowns and biodiversity when planning out your  projects as 55 points could make or break your campaign in the main competition. On top of this, while each of the 8 categories are judged independently it is wise to study each one as many of them can overlap and can contribute to another category. For example, attaching rainwater planters to downpipes throughout your community can score in Sustainability for reducing water usage, it can score in biodiversity as it can reduce runoff into nearby waterbodies. Benefits of this include reducing the quantity of pollutants reaching waterbodies from surface runoff, reducing the probability of flash flooding, all while the planters provide a habitat for native wetland plants. You can also score within the Greenspace and Landscaping category by selecting appropriate native species within the planter so it can support a variety of wildlife including pollinators and add colour and texture to otherwise uniform built areas. 

There are over 200 prizes given out each year with a total prize fund of €250,000 up for grabs. From the pot, €200,000 is reserved for the main competition which has several categories. There are also a number of special awards available outside of this main competition. These special awards are provided and judged by a variety of sponsors across a broad range of topics. These awards are outside the main competition so if your group is particularly strong in a particular category but weaker in the other categories, these special awards could be a nice way to be rewarded for your hard efforts. 

This year there are a tonne of great special awards available for biodiversity and environmental related projects:

• The Bat Conservation Ireland Award
• Tree Project Award
• Climate Action Award 
• Air Quality Award
• SDG Award
• Agent Brite Litter Awareness Award
• Water and Communities Award
• Leave no Trace Award 
• All Ireland Pollinator Plan Award 
• EPA – Circular Economy Award 
• Save the Bees School Award 

For more details on each of these awards – see link: https://www.tidytowns.ie/competition/2022-special-award-entry-forms/

It is important to be mindful that when undertaking work on natural environments, always seek assistance from the relevant authorities, especially when working in sensitive habitats. Engage with your local NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Services) wildlife ranger for guidance on protected species and habitats in your area and IFI (Inland Fisheries Ireland) Fisheries Environmental Officer for instream works and timing of such work. These authorities can provide guidance on the efficacy of your planned project so that they don’t negatively impact biodiversity. They may also be able to point you to experts who can help you best design your project. 

If you are engaging in water related projects, through the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO) you can also seek guidance from your community water officer. All of these professionals are very approachable and are more than happy to help guide communities to help their local wildlife. For more details on who your community water officer is check the link here: https://lawaters.ie/team/communities-team/#filter=*

In 2021, out of 847 entries, Ennis was announced as the winner of Ireland’s Tidiest Town. Ennis TidyTowns was very strong in the Nature and Biodiversity category. With many projects running including herbicide free weed control and multiple efforts to encourage pollinators. They also had a wall ecology project exhibiting the importance of old stone walls as habitats, an event where 100 trees were planted off the Kilrush road and a Tree Trail was completed in Tim Symthe Park.  

Today biodiversity is under threat from many angles. The introduction of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) is the second biggest threat to biodiversity just after habitat loss. Here in Ireland, the management of IAS costs the economy around €200 million each year. Water quality is also under significant pressure from many human activities. Despite many improvements in recent years most Irish water bodies are still not of satisfactory status. The decline in all insect populations including pollinators is also a very concerning trend.

Strong communities like those formed through TidyTowns will be crucial in helping to ensure biodiversity has a place in our communities in the years to come. Without the hard-working efforts of communities through initiatives like TidyTowns, the picture does not look good. While we still face an uphill battle to conserve what biodiversity we still have left, it is encouraging to see the many creative ways that TidyTowns groups come up with each year to help do their part, using what they have to protect their local nature.   

         

Bonus tip: 

Trying to grow your group? Today there are many great ways to keep in touch with your group and organise your events and projects. Having an active group page on social media can help you increase your reach so you can increase your volunteer network and maybe even encourage more young people to get involved with your projects. The link between TidyTowns and biodiversity could be highlighted in that space. With many of these social media platforms, the more engagement within the group the more the platform will promote your group to users of the social media platform. In practice, this means regular posting, uploading of videos and photos, commenting and running polls can increase the number of people who see your group page which can lead to new members joining your group on social media and potentially act as a funnel to get them helping on the ground. Another benefit of this is that it also ticks the box of raising awareness about your projects and their impacts, which is one of the judging criteria in the Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality and Sustainability – Doing more with less categories.     

The closing date for applications for Tidy Towns 2022 was the 20th of May. While it is too late to get involved in this year’s competition it won’t be long before we are gearing up for TidyTowns 2023. Have you lots of ideas for brilliant community projects but not sure how to fund them? Check out our blog on funding for lots of great tips on how to get started- What Biodiversity Funding is Available for your Projects?. Here at Veri Connect we also offer courses which help participants understand the natural world around them. We offer guidance geared towards communities, on many of the issues biodiversity faces today and show real world examples of projects that can have massive benefits to biodiversity and water quality which could be applied to your local area.