Latest news with #BurrenbeoTrust
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Twenty-one farms to open their gates for free one-day sustainable farming showcase
Nature-friendly farms across the country plan to open their gates as part of a sustainable farming showcase. On August 31, a total of 21 farms across Ireland will be open to the public for a one-day event organised by Farming For Nature, a non-profit initiative that works with farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices. Farming For Nature was set up in 2018 as a non-profit project established under the Burrenbeo Trust. Last year, the group launched the Farming For Nature Handbook, a practical guide to protecting and restoring nature. The handbook featured contributions from more than 50 Irish farmers, who shared their experiences of how working with nature can help reduce their overheads and boost incomes. The 'Inside The Gate' event is designed to boost public understanding of the importance of nature-friendly farming, including practices that support healthy soils, clean water, diverse habitats and sustainable food production. The 21 farms spread across Tipperary, Wexford, Mayo, Roscommon, Clare, Cork, Kildare, Kilkenny, Galway, Kerry, Laois, and Limerick will take part in Inside The Gate, showcasing their land and the progressive measures they have introduced to enhance biodiversity, reduce waste, and stem their greenhouse gas emissions. Mimi Crawford and Owen Crawford from Crawfords Farm in Tipperary which is opening its gates to the public as part of the nationwide Inside The Gate event on August 31. Tickets and more information on each location are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Farming For Nature website. Events are free to attend, but capacity at the individual farms will be limited. Inside the Gate is supported by RTÉ Ear to the Ground presenter Ella McSweeney, who is encouraging as many people as possible to sign up for a visit on August 31, adding that the day is a 'really valuable opportunity for young and old, from all backgrounds across Ireland, to spend time on some of the most nature-rich farms in the country.' Co-founder of Farming For Nature, Brigid Barry, said: 'Hosted on 21 farms in 12 counties across Ireland, the 26 different events will give our participating farmers the opportunity to showcase the importance of farms which produce food with nature in mind.' 'In the past, many people in Ireland would have grown up with access to a farm through their extended family. "With the dwindling number of small-hold farms and farmers, that's not really the case anymore, so this is an opportunity to give urban and indeed rural people access to not just a working farm, but one that approaches food production in a sustainable and nature-friendly way.' Bruce Thompson of Camcloon Dairy Farm in Laois, which is opening its gates to the public as part of the event. RTÉ presenter and Inside The Gate patron, Ella McSweeney, said: 'Like so many people in Ireland, I grew up in an urban area with no direct connection to farming. "Over the years, through my work, I've been lucky enough to visit farms all across the country, and it's given me a huge understanding of how food is produced and how farmers can drive positive change on their land, to the benefit of all of us. 'The fact is that for most Irish people, unless you know a farmer personally, it's not at all easy to get onto a working farm. So I'm really thrilled that Farming for Nature farmers will be throwing their gates open to the public on 31st August. "It's an unmissable opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to spend time on a farm, meet the farmers and see up close how they produce food while looking after nature. Farming for Nature farmers have created some of the most nature-rich farms in the country.'
Agriland
03-06-2025
- General
- Agriland
Initiative to protect natural heritage now open to community groups
Local community groups are now able to apply for funding and mentoring under a programme to 'protect and celebrate' local heritage, including natural heritage. The Heritage Keepers programme is now open to applications for its fifth year. The programme is open to community groups and primary schools across Ireland in both urban and rural locations. Organisers of the initiative said that this year's programme will have an increased number of places for both community groups and schools. Heritage Keepers is an initiative of Burrenbeo Trust, and is funded by The Sunflower Charitable Foundation, through Community Foundation Ireland. Last year, 75 groups took part in the programme, with more than 200 groups having participated since the programme commenced. The aim of the programme is to provide funding to participants to take steps to protect built, cultural and natural heritage. The closing date for applications is September 30, with the latest round of the programme set to start in the autumn, and running until spring 2026. The programme is designed to help successful applicants develop a local plan to 'protect and celebrate their heritage' through a series of interactive workshops. When those workshops are complete, groups can apply for funding and receive ongoing mentoring to put their plans into action. Of the more than 200 groups and schools that have taken part in the programme since it was launched, some 90% have gone on to complete their funded action, the organisers of the programme said. Some past actions include exhibitions, heritage trails, tree planting, podcast creation, booklets, wildlife ponds, oral history projects, and 'place celebration' days. Funding for fieldtrips is also provided, allowing participants to visit local heritage sites. Commenting on the initiative, Heritage Keepers coordinator Mary Dillon said: 'Learning more about our places and their needs is the first step to building community stewardship, where communities and individuals feel empowered to take action locally to bring about real and meaningful change and action. 'While our programme is open to both primary schools and community groups, this year we would love to see an increased uptake in the number of applications from community groups. 'We are incredibly proud and grateful to all our previous Heritage Keepers participants who have shown an inspiring amount of pride in their place and have proved to be wonderful stewards of their community. We are very excited to meet this year's groups and hear all about their plans to protect and celebrate their local heritage,' Dillon added.
Agriland
23-04-2025
- General
- Agriland
Burrenbeo Trust ‘celebration' of biodiversity to begin on May 3
The Burrenbeo Trust's annual series of events to highlight biodiversity in the Burren is set to begin this year on May 3. The trust said it has organised a 'wide range of events' throughout the month of May as part of 'Burren in Bloom' to draw attention to the regions' diversity of plants, flowers, birds and insects. The events include 14 guided walks on Burren hills and farms, in woodlands, at national park sites and in gardens, along with talks, workshops, and a webinar, with naturalists, and local farmers and landowners taking part. The opening talk of the programme on May 3 in Kinvara, Co. Galway, will feature the works of insect photographer, naturalist and author Lisa Clancy. The 'Wildlife Pond Workshop' delivered by Féidhlim Harty, advisor with The Hare's Corner initiative, also on May 3, and 'Caher Bridge Garden visit' guided by its creator Carl Wright on May 11, will both highlight 'actions that individuals or communities can take to make more space for nature in their own pockets of land'. An evening talk on May 22 in Doolin, Co. Clare, will see Dutch ecologist and lecturer Matthijs Schouten, along with others, give perspectives on what makes the Burren a 'unique landscape' for learning. Other indoor events organised by Burrenbeo Trust include a Tea Talk with author Rachel McKenna on 'Step into Nature – Flora and Fauna from May to June' in Tubber Village Hall; a children's art workshop with wildlife artist Gordon D'Arcy in Kinvara Community Centre; as well as an online talk on 'Ants in Ireland – and the Burren' with zoologist John Breen. The series of events will end on the last weekend of May with three Burren farm walks: the 'Burren Farm Biodiversity' walk with the Burren Aran team (part of the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme); the 'Great Irish Grasslands' walk with botanist Phoebe O'Brien; and a 'Return to the Winterage' walk. Commenting on the upcoming programme of events, Áine Bird, CEO of Burrenbeo Trust, said: 'The Burren's unique ecological richness makes it a perfect place for learning and celebration. Burren in Bloom brings us together to appreciate this beauty while reminding us of the local and global threats to biodiversity and our role in protecting it.' The indoor events are free, while costs apply to the guided walks, with that money going to the Burrenbeo Trust. Advance booking for all events is necessary, unless otherwise stated. The programme of events is part funded by the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Burren Aran co-operation project (CP).
