A funding scheme to support landowners and community groups across Galway in undertaking nature-positive measures on their lands is open for applications.
The Hare’s Corner, an innovative biodiversity initiative, coordinated by the Burren-based landscape charity Burrenbeo Trust in conjunction with the Biodiversity Office of Galway County Council, is being rolled out following the successful piloting scheme.
Inspired by the term ‘The Hare’s Corner’ – an old farming expression for an awkward section of a field which wasn’t intensively farmed and so was ‘left to nature’.
The aim of this project is to help create habitats that have proven benefits to biodiversity, climate-action as well as to the wellbeing of participants.
The Hare’s Corner project offers landowners ‘hassle-free’ support to carry out simple but impactful actions for biodiversity such as the creation of a wildlife pond, a native mini-woodland, a heritage mini-orchard with apple trees from the Irish Seedsavers Association and/or a bespoke ‘plan for nature’ or ‘peatland plan’ for their site.
This support is offered in the form of materials such as native and heritage apple trees, micro-funding (e.g. machinery costs for pond digging), professional services (such as a hydrologist’s visit to help plan a pond, or an ecologist’s visit to ‘plan for nature’, or for a ‘peatland plan’) and guidance.
Rosina Joyce, Biodiversity Officer with Galway County Council commented, “We are delighted to partner with The Hare’s Corner project and are delighted to see that initiative is now open to landowners and community groups throughout the county.”
“Often, we see that people want to do something to support nature, but they don’t know where to start or how to do it.”
“This partnership with Galway County Council and the Hare’s Corner meets this need by providing the encouragement, advice, and micro-funding to do it.”
“I look forward to providing the local support necessary to bring this fantastic opportunity to participants in Co. Galway.”
The piloting of the non-profit initiative in Clare and Mayo resulted in the creation of 125 ponds, 200 orchards, 175 native mini-woodlands and 97 plans for nature.
Applications are open at www.burrenbeo.com/thc for landowners in County Galway, Galway City, Mayo, Meath and Leitrim until Sunday, March 31, 2024.
According to Lee Worrell of Burrenbeo Trust, “Landowners can apply for one or more biodiversity actions and participation in the Hare’s Corner involves no cost to, and minimal hassle for, the landowner.”
“All we ask in return from beneficiaries is their commitment to act as ‘stewards’ of their own special Hare’s Corner”.
Places in the programme are limited due to its budget, so applications may be screened by metrics such as the suitability of the site for biodiversity.
Community groups and schools will also be given preference for funding, while farmers who are part of the ACRES or NPWS Farm Plan Scheme are not currently eligible.
