The search has begun for Fermanagh’s most successful ‘Meadow Makers’ especially from landowners, smallholders and farmers, who have successfully juggled the challenges of running farm businesses, while conserving wildflower meadows and grasslands.
Flower-rich meadows and grasslands have declined disastrously in recent decades, resulting in not only the loss of huge chunks of Northern Ireland’s natural grassland heritage, but also a host of native wildflowers and threatened pollinators.
As part of Save Our Magnificent Meadows, the UK’s largest partnership project transforming the fortunes of vanishing wildflower meadows, grasslands and wildlife, this award will acknowledge their efforts. According to the charity, these people are the unsung heroes of the conservation world, setting a fantastic example of how to protect our meadow heritage, and inspiring others.
A spokesman stated: “Recognising their achievements with this national Award is an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate their commitment to the conservation of the UK’s last surviving meadows. Perhaps, they have taken challenging steps to adopt wildlife-friendly management techniques like at Drumgormley Farm in Derrgonnelly where Gerry and Stephen Cassidy have been managing their devil’s bit scabious meadows by clearing scrub, or restored a neglected site to a glorious hay meadow with help from volunteers, like Monastery Meadows in Enniskillen. We want to share their stories.” Giles Knight, Ulster Wildlife’s Grassland Conservation Officer based in Fermanagh said:“Farmers and landowners are valuable custodians of our landscape and have an important role to play in protecting Northern Ireland’s remaining wildflower meadows and reversing the trend of loss by creating more. This award is a great way to celebrate and reward their positive work helping nature thrive on their land and hopefully it will encourage more to become meadow champions.” Nominations for ‘Meadow Makers’ are welcome from across Northern Ireland from now until July 31 with the winners for each nation (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) announced in September 2015. For more information and details on how to enter, visit www.magnificentmeadows.org.uk
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