*Pictured are students from St John’s National School, Shannon, Katie Donnelly, Illia Novomlyntsev, and Dhanyashri Gomathiraja with Environmentalist and Broadcaster, Éanna Ní Lámhna. Photograph: Arthur Ellis.
THIRTY BAT, bird and bee boxes are being erected in the surrounding lands of the Shannon Campus to lend a hand to nature.
Renowned Environmentalist and Broadcaster, Éanna Ní Lamhna unveiled the nest boxes, the initiative is part of The Shannon Airport Group’s new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
They will be located at the Group’s Community Biodiversity Garden, in woodlands and other areas of suitable habitat across the campus.
Students from St John’s National School in Shannon received an educational workshop on flora and fauna from Éanna and guest speaker Philip Brennan, the Shannon Airport Ornithologist at the launch. Local community groups including Shannon Tidy Towns, Shannon Wetlands Community Group and the Men’s Shed were also in attendance.
The BAP, which is a key initiative of the Group’s Sustainability Strategy, aims to gather data of the biodiversity present across the Group’s lands and to protect and conserve it using the most appropriate and eco-friendly methods available. It outlines a number of actions, which includes a “Low Mow” regime, pollinator friendly planting, woodland enhancement, monitoring habitat transition, and education, outreach, and engagement.
Sinead Murphy, Head of Sustainability at The Shannon Airport Group said, “We are proud to launch our Biodiversity Action Plan and take those necessary steps in the conservation and protection of our environment. Our mission for this plan is to become a biodiversity-friendly airport and business campus. We aim to protect, conserve, and enhance the valuable habitats and species present across The Shannon Airport Group lands.
“This includes not only the EU Natura 2000 sites designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA), and the nationally important proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA), but also the undesignated sites which exist within the airport lands and commercial properties,” she added.
Launching the Biodiversity Action Plan, Éanna Ní Lamhna commented, “We all have a part to play. The simplest of environmental management changes can bring huge improvement in biodiversity. Here on the Shannon campus, there is already the return of Marsh Orchids and Bee Orchids thanks to a low mow regime. It will get better and better as the Action plan is further rolled out”.
Last year, the Group launched its Sustainability Strategy which acts as a blueprint to achieve a more sustainable future for the Group, its people, and the community.
