A plan to address the serious decline in wintering and breeding wetland birds around the shores of the Lough is now well underway. Lough Neagh Partnership have been consulting with local landowners, farmers and shooting clubs who scrutinised the draft plan at an organised feedback seminar at Oxford Island on July 6.
One of the major tasks identified will be to restore large areas of wet grassland habitat for breeding birds such as curlew, snipe and lapwing (above), by making best use of funding from the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) when it opens for applications, to target the appropriate parts of the landscape area. The south west and southern shores of the Lough are the most likely target for this habitat, given that these shores have historically been the best for these birds. Other parts of the shore will be targeted for the restoration of habitats such as wet woodland. A further workshop has been arranged for the end of September for DAERA staff who are involved in the environmental protection of the Lough.
Gerry Darby who is co-ordinating the development and implementation of the plan commented: “The mapping process of identifying management issues for areas around the Lough has now been completed and it is important to continue working with people on the ground to develop and agree management solutions on how the shoreline can become more favourable for wintering and breeding birds as its condition improves, and at the same time attract more investment into the local farming economy.”
If you are a landowner or farmer on the shores of the Lough and are interested in becoming involved, please contact Gerry Darby in the Lough Neagh Partnership offices Tel: 028 7941 7941 or Email:darby.gerry@gmail.com.
Picture: Chris Gomersall
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