Nature initiative backed by two local farmers is honoured in international competition
An Irish farming initiative, which has two official ambassadors in this region, has been awarded second place in an international competition, the 'Act for Biodiversity Challenge'.
The Farming for Nature initiative was among over 200 projects across the world assessed in this competition. It received a cash prize of €40,000. Farming for Nature and will be included in an Accelerator Programme to share what has been successful in Ireland with other countries.
Farming for Nature is an independent, not-for-profit initiative which aims to support high nature value farming in Ireland. It was established in 2018.
Two of its current ambassadors are Lecarrow farmer Pádraig Corcoran and Ballymore farmer Kate Egan.
Minister of State in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, welcomed the international recognition achieved by the ‘Farming for Nature’.
Congratulating it on its success, he said: “I am delighted that Farming for Nature is being recognised and showcased for the excellent work that they are doing in the area of farmland biodiversity. I am particularly encouraged by the partnership model that involves staff of my Department working closely with others to deliver a Seed for Nature.”
The two local ambassadors are among 24 nationwide whose farming stories are used to highlight the aims and approaches of Farming for Nature.
Padraig Corcoran and his wife Bernadette, along with their four children, have a cattle and sheep enterprise on their holding in Mount Plunkett, Lecarrow, near Lough Ree, County Roscommon.
Padraic manages a 54-acre section of an old estate – which he and his family run as a Nature Reserve – composed of diverse range of tillage, grassland, woodland and wetland.
WATCH Padraig talk about the Farming by Nature programme here:
He has restored woodland, planted new hedgerows, dug ponds, installed bat and bird boxes and restored wetland areas for breeding waders of conservation importance by clearing encroaching scrub.
He has established plots for wild birds and used seed mixes that are optimum for biodiversity.
Kate Egan runs a 9-acre chemical free farm dedicated to biodiversity and permaculture in Ballymore, Co. Westmeath. She bought the farm with her partner, Tom, just a couple of years ago and is a good example of which can be achieved both in terms of habitat building and yield production in a short amount of time. Kate’s products include vegetables, fruits, geese, ducks, and hens are sold at a local market, helping to reduce food miles and support the local economy. She is a building up a farm that is climate resilient and incorporate wildlife into all parts of the farm.
WATCH Kate's video here: