Wicklow Uplands Council

Farm Safety Week 2018 starts today!

Lots of advice in this article to assist in making a farm environment safer for everyone.

bit.ly/2mkmtJL ... See MoreSee Less

Farm Safety Week - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority

teagasc.ie

Farm Safety Week Ireland the the UK have joined forces for Farm Safety Week 2018, taking place from July 16th to 20th Your Health -  Your Safety - Your Choice Accidents on farms are a continuing cause of concern for the situation to improve the practical engagement of farmers’  is essential for...

21 hours ago

"We’ve also had some bigger camp sites in Glenmalure, completely and utterly abandoned sites. The tents are fully erect, there are chairs, empty cans, burger buns – it’s like the people just disappeared overnight, they just got in their cars and left.""

TheJournal.ie has recently published an article on the incidents of litter and illegal dumping in the uplands, that unfortunately seem to come hand in hand with warm weather.

It also offers insight into the great work that the Pure Mile groups in the region are doing, whose involvement is key to keeping the Wicklow Uplands in the pristine condition it deserve to be found in.

Well done to Pureproject and all involved!

bit.ly/2LjsdBs

#YourWicklowUplands #KeepingItPristine #LeaveNoTrace ... See MoreSee Less

'A minority spoiling it for everyone': Increase in rubbish left in Dublin and Wicklow mountains during hot spell

thejournal.ie

Volunteers who have been clearing the litter have found whole campsites left behind by people who stayed overnight.

1 day ago

WICKLOW UPLANDS COUNCIL WARMLY WELCOMES THE PASSING OF THE HERITAGE BILL THROUGH BOTH HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS.

The passing of the Heritage Bill through both houses of the Oireachtas was completed last week with Seanad Éireann voting to pass the bill without amendment. This news is warmly welcomed by Wicklow Uplands Council who has lobbied successive Governments for the extension of the current permissive burning season since it was shortened by 6 weeks in 2000 without prior consultation.

The provisions found in the Heritage Bill will allow for the controlled burning of upland vegetation in the month of March on a two year pilot basis should circumstances such as severe weather events require an extension to the current permissive dates.

The excessive levels of snow and adverse weather conditions experienced earlier this year, which lasted for many weeks in the uplands region, offers a prime example of why the current season is unworkable and why upland farming communities are delighted with the passing of the Heritage Bill.

Controlled burning when carried out correctly, is widely considered to be a very effective land management technique and to the benefit to both farmers and upland biodiversity. The practice is used to remove areas of older and taller vegetation and allow for the regeneration of young heather for grazing livestock.

By removing some areas of older vegetation and leaving others, a mosaic of habitat type and structure is produced which also provides optimal conditions for upland biodiversity. These areas also act as a fire break which help to prevent or slow the spread of wildfires.

The Uplands Council has often warned of the dangers of unmanaged and excessive vegetation in the uplands should a fire take hold. Unfortunately the recent prolonged dry weather conditions have seen wildfires spreading with devastating affect, which highlights the importance and need for better management practices of upland habitats.

Traditionally, controlled burning was always carried out in the early spring when the previous year’s growth is dry and there is still some moisture in the ground, this helps prevent spread and regrowth is relatively quick.

According to Ciaran Nugent, Forestry Inspector with the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and author of the white paper report ‘Why We Need Prescribed Fire in Ireland’:

"Almost 40 years of fire weather data collected and modelled by Met Eireann and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine clearly supports the position that March is the best and safest time of the year to conduct prescribed burning under Irish conditions.”

The current permissive season from September to the end of February is regarded as unworkable by many of the upland landowners. This has resulted in a decline in the quality and condition of important upland habitats due to decreased farming activities, increased land abandonment and the extent and frequency of unregulated burning.

It is worth noting that at present, the burning season in the Republic of Ireland is out of line with the UK and Northern Ireland dates who allow for controlled burning till April 15th.

News of the bill’s passing is also critical in light of the Upland Council’s new European funded ‘Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme’ (SUAS) pilot project. SUAS aims to support upland farmers in the best management of their upland habitats and the use of controlled rotational burning will be an important feature of the project.

Training and equipment will be provided to participants and all burning activities will be carried out with the use of integrated management plans and best practice. This includes adhering fully to any legislative notification and reporting requirements.

The SUAS project will also measure the impacts of this controlled burning on the ecology and hydrology of the project’s selected sites and will offer important insights to the value it has as a vegetation management tool.

Wicklow Uplands Council supports the prompt introduction of the Heritage Act as it presents an opportunity for controlled burning to be now conducted within a realistic time period and return our uplands to a more managed condition.

#YourWicklowUplands #ManagingOurUplands #HeritageBill ... See MoreSee Less

The Irish Times view on the Heritage Bill: the case for a new vision

irishtimes.com

Farmers sometimes know more than regulators about how to conserve the biodiversity of their home places

1 day ago