Tidy Villages group secures grant for biodiversity plan for village near Carrick-on-Suir

A rural community near Carrick-on-Suir has received funding to help it develop a biodiversity action plan to protect its flora and fauna.

Clonea Power Tidy Villages group is receiving the grant aid from Community Foundation Ireland in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to enable measures to be taken to protect local biodiversity guided by the expert knowledge of ecologists.

Angela Skehan, Chairperson of Clonea Power Tidy Villages Committee, said the funding will allow a detailed ecological study to be carried out in the Clonea Power area, focusing primarily on the catchment area around the River Clodiagh and the Special Area of Conservation attached to that water course.

“By taking an inventory of the flora and fauna in the area, it will allow a tailored plan to be developed which can identify actions to be taken to promote the unique environment of Clonea Power.

“We are delighted to have the involvement of ecologist Kevin Collins who is carrying out our survey.

The project was formally launched in Clonea Power on Thursday, March 27. The event included guest speakers, Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist and Paul Carroll of Friends of the River Clodiagh Group.

Dr Catherine Keen, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, explaining exhibits of native flora and fauna to pupils from Clonea Power National School at the Clonea Power biodiversity project launch

More than 250 communities have been implementing local action plans since the partnership between the Community Foundation and the Parks and Wildlife Service started in 2019. Clonea Power Tidy Villages Committee’s Biodiversity Action Plan is one of 94 projects receiving more than €591,000 under the current round of funding.

The support being provided comes from philanthropists and donors to the Foundation matched with public funding.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage & Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD said this partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Community Foundation Ireland is a great example of how we can empower and support community organisations to learn about their local biodiversity and use that knowledge along with their creativity to come up with a plan which is unique to their area.

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Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland congratulated Clonea Power Tidy Villages Committee on receiving the funding.

“We are particularly proud that local efforts to protect habitats, plants and wildlife are increasingly growing into a national movement. The fact that this current grant round is impacting in every county shows the groundswell of support for biodiversity action.”

Niall Ó’Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, said NPWS was delighted to work with the Community Foundation of Ireland and to support community groups like Clonea Power Tidy Villages in enhancing their local biodiversity.