I am appealing to as many people as possible to get involved in your Local Biodiversity Action Plan and do your bit for biodiversity.
Omagh LBAP Partnership
Twice a year the partnership meets to hear more about Omagh’s Biodiversity and help in shaping their LBAP. This is an open forum and anyone can join! All partnership gatherings are advertised in the local press and will appear here on our latest news. Our meeting in May was a particularly exciting one as we were treated to a display of electro fishing on the Gortin Burn courtesy of Lough’s Agency. We saw many small brown trout and all the insects they feed on as well as enjoying the wonderful scenery of Gortin.
As this is a LOCAL Biodiversity Action Plan, we intend to hold each partnership meeting in a different local village or community. The aim is to take the partnership throughout the district so they can learn about all of Omagh’s biodiversity and to engage as many extra local people as possible over the next few years. If you want to join the partnership just email me your contact details and I will inform you of the next meeting and any other events or news.
Real action
You can also get directly involved by coordinating a local project. If you are a constituted group, business or organisation, you could create your own biodiversity project and help implement the Omagh LBAP. Or if you are coordinating an event that you would like me to attend please get in touch.
Projects that I have assisted local groups with or events that I have attended include;
- Loughmacrory Community have just completed a circular walkway that has been enhanced with a Nature Trail and bird hide.
- Local hospital unit have created a wildlife garden with their clients which included an introductory talk on wildlife gardening.
Watch your local wildlfife!
There are many other ways you can get involved, but perhaps one of the easiest and most effective ways of helping me is to get out into the countryside and record what you see. From red squirrels to otters and bats to many birds, I want to know more about Omagh’s wildlife. What it is you saw, where you saw it and what it was doing! And don’t forget about the little things too; if you have a flower identification book, take a closer look at your hedgerows, bogs and any woods you have access to. Think seasonal as well! In the summer look out for butterflies, bees and dragonflies. In the autumn there is an array of fungi to find and identify and in the winter watch out for and help our hungry garden birds such as the song thrush. The spring marks the birth and re-growth of many species but keep your eyes peeled for frogspawn, newts, many wildflowers and listen out for the first cuckoo call.
There are recording cards available to download here with suggested species to record but an email or phone call with your information is just as useful. You can download birds, butterflies, mammals, wildflowers and invasive species recording cards.
I look forward to working together to conserve and enhance the rich biodiversity of Omagh.
