Biodiversity motion passed by Louth County Council

A biodiversity motion, Cllr Marianne Butler brought to the March County Council meeting was passed by general agreement by councillors present at the meeting.

Cllr Butler's motions stated:

“In light of the ongoing pressure on pollinating insect populations and the habitats they rely upon, that Louth County Council recognises its duty of care to our local biodiversity and adopts the operational Guidelines for Councils contained in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015 to 2020 issued by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.”

In its reply to the motion Louth County Council (LCC) said:

“LCC has been taking account of the need to encourage pollinators in planning and carrying out its landscape management works. Tasks specific to this objective carried out to date by the Council include:

“The planting of a total of 35,000 different bulbs species in various areas over the last 18 month– These will provide earlier nectar for bees and other insect species. A significantly reduced use of herbicides and pollinator friendly management of our parks as evidenced by our achievement in the last two years of Green Flags for four of our parks.

“Our increased emphasis on pollinator friendly plants e.g. herbaceous perennials instead of bedding plants. Our increased emphasis on maintaining existing species-rich habitats to attract pollinators e.g. we have adjusted the grass cutting regime in specific areas such as public parks and open spaces, to manage them as meadow rather than with an intensive mowing regime.

“Our selection of pollinator friendly tree species for our tree planting programme, choosing native species where possible. Our introduction of a layered mowing approach to road-side verges, in managing its parks and open spaces, Louth County Council's parks management team will continue to have regard to the needs of pollinators and will take account of the operational Guidelines for Councils contained in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015 to 2020.”