Nature Reserve
1
Monday, January 5, 2015 NEWS 15 EE - V1 RIGHT: Dave Foley of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd, right, with John Howard of Rathcormac Game and Wildlife Club, checking the plans at the Corrin Nature Reserve near Fermoy. Plans to develop a nature reserve in North Cork to protect native species and habitats from depredation are now in their final phase. Yet the work is by no means finished. Those behind the project have appealed for funding and volunteers to come on board to keep it going By KIRSTY TOBIN LEFT: The grey partridge — ‘‘its preservation is our key aim,’’ says John Howard, of the Rathcormac Game and Wildlife Club. Picture: David Keane ● TO follow progress at the Rathcormac Nature Reserve, or for details on how you can get involved, visit www.rathcormacgameand wildlifeclub.ie The Nature Reserve is being funded by Rathcormac Game and Wildlife Club. Follow its progress Nature Reserve will be a huge draw in the North Cork area IN 2006, John Howard, of the Rathcormac Game and Wildlife Club, approached the Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, in Fermoy, with an intriguing idea. The club was anxious about falling numbers in local wildlife populations. Habitats were being lost through re- clamation, building, drainage and the development of the M8 motorway. The grey partridge was dying out. Something, they felt, had to be done. The proposal? A Nature Reserve, to be located on six-acres of land the club had bought with their own revenues. The reserve would focus on conserva- tion, attempting to protect native spe- cies and to protect habitats from further depredation. “Those six acres are going to be saved from the bulldozer for ever more,” says John Howard. “We don’t intend to bring in any exotic or unusual species, just native plants and animals. Particularly the grey part- ridge — its preservation is our key aim.” Avondhu Blackwater, without hesita- tion, agreed to fund the project to a value of €68,319.15 under the LEADER Rural Development Pro- gramme 2007-2013. Explaining the justification for funding of this magnitude, Valerie Murphy, pictured, CEO of Avondhu Blackwater, said, “The reserve will be one-of-a-kind in the north Cork region and, as such, will be a huge draw. ‘‘It’s also hugely important to safe- guard the future of local habitats and local wildlife populations, and that’s an ethos we try to embody and support at Avondhu Blackwater.” The reserve is a huge undertaking, sure to yield manifold results. Valerie sees the benefits of the reserve surpass- ing conservation and tourism. The re- serve will act as an education tool for local schools, allowing students the op- portunity to see, first-hand, the benefits of creating an environment in which endangered species can thrive. Furthermore, the reserve will serve as a fabulous amenity in which nature can be appreciated and enjoyed by all and sundry. John, for his part, agrees with Valerie, but he also hopes that the reserve will show gun clubs in a new light. “Game clubs are finally being recog- nised for their conservation efforts, but there still needs to be more recogni- tion. ‘‘We don’t shoot anything that’s rare or endangered, and every one of our members is as dedicated to wildlife as they are to shooting.” The proof is in the wildlife — since work on the reserve began, local species have started flooding into the protected space, and club members are optimistic that this influx of wildlife will grow as time goes on. Now, the final phase of development on the extensive project is coming to a close, yet the work is by no means finished, and the club is desperate for further funding, and for an investment of time. “While we couldn’t have gotten to the stage we’re at now without the help of funding from Avondhu Blackwater, it’s going to take even more money to keep the reserve going, so we’re looking for donations.” The club is also looking for gardeners and landscapers who would like to design an area of the grounds, and would love for someone to sponsor the place- ment of covers on the reserve’s three pools. The viewing area, standing high above the reserve, is affording stunning views over the ever-changing landscape. And so it becomes clear that the reserve will very much be an evolving entity. Entry to the reserve will be granted free of charge.
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Transcript of Nature Reserve
TERAPROOF:User:rorynoonanDate:02/01/2015Time:12:29:33Edition:05/01/2015Monmonecho050115Page:15 Zone:EE
Monday, January 5, 2015 NEWS 15EE - V1
RIGHT: Dave Foley ofAvondhu BlackwaterPartnership Ltd, right,with John Howard ofRathcormac Game andWildlife Club, checkingthe plans at the CorrinNature Reserve nearFermoy.
Plans to develop a nature reserve in North Corkto protect native species and habitats from
depredation are now in their final phase. Yetthe work is by no means finished. Those behind
the project have appealed for funding andvolunteers to come on board to keep it going
By KIRSTY TOBIN
LEFT: The grey partridge— ‘‘its preservation isour key aim,’’ says JohnHoward, of theRathcormac Game andWildlife Club.
Picture: David Keane
● TO follow progress atthe Rathcormac NatureReserve, or for details onhow you can getinvolved, visitwww.rathcormacgameandwildlifeclub.ie
The Nature Reserve is being funded by Rathcormac Game and Wildlife Club.
Follow itsprogress
Nature Reserve will be a hugedraw in the North Cork area
IN 2006, John Howard, of theRathcormac Game and WildlifeClub, approached the AvondhuBlackwater Partnership, inFermoy, with an intriguingidea.The club was anxious about falling
numbers in local wildlife populations.Habitats were being lost through re-clamation, building, drainage and thedevelopment of the M8 motorway. Thegrey partridge was dying out.Something, they felt, had to be done.The proposal? A Nature Reserve, to be
located on six-acres of land the club hadbought with their own revenues.The reserve would focus on conserva-
tion, attempting to protect native spe-cies and to protect habitats from furtherdepredation.“Those six acres are going to be saved
from the bulldozer for ever more,” saysJohn Howard.“Wedon’t intend to bring in any exotic
or unusual species, just native plantsand animals. Particularly the grey part-ridge — its preservation is our keyaim.”Avondhu Blackwater, without hesita-
tion, agreed to fund the project to a valueof €68,319.15 under the LEADER RuralDevelopment Pro-gramme 2007-2013.Explaining the
justification forfunding of thismagnitude, ValerieMurphy, pictured,CEO of AvondhuBlackwater, said,“The reserve willbe one-of-a-kind inthe north Corkregion and, assuch,will be a hugedraw.‘‘It’s also hugely important to safe-
guard the future of local habitats andlocal wildlife populations, and that’s anethos we try to embody and support atAvondhu Blackwater.”The reserve is a huge undertaking,
sure to yield manifold results. Valeriesees the benefits of the reserve surpass-
ing conservation and tourism. The re-serve will act as an education tool forlocal schools, allowing students the op-portunity to see, first-hand, the benefitsof creating an environment in whichendangered species can thrive.Furthermore, the reservewill serve as
a fabulous amenity in which nature canbe appreciated and enjoyed by all andsundry.John, for his part, agreeswithValerie,
but he also hopes that the reserve willshow gun clubs in a new light.“Game clubs are finally being recog-
nised for their conservation efforts, butthere still needs to be more recogni-tion.‘‘We don’t shoot anything that’s rare
or endangered, and every one of ourmembers is as dedicated to wildlife asthey are to shooting.”The proof is in the wildlife — since
work on the reserve began, local specieshave started flooding into the protectedspace, and club members are optimisticthat this influx of wildlife will grow astime goes on.Now, the final phase of development
on the extensive project is coming to aclose, yet the work is by no meansfinished, and the club is desperate forfurther funding, and for an investmentof time.“While we couldn’t have gotten to the
stage we’re at now without the help offunding from Avondhu Blackwater, it’sgoing to take even more money to keepthe reserve going, so we’re looking fordonations.”The club is also looking for gardeners
and landscapers who would like todesignanarea of the grounds, andwouldlove for someone to sponsor the place-ment of covers on the reserve’s threepools.The viewing area, standing high
above the reserve, is affording stunningviews over the ever-changing landscape.And so it becomes clear that the reservewill very much be an evolving entity.Entry to the reserve will be granted
free of charge.
