Updates

Riverside Park stepped back in time on Saturday the 7th of April, when the Don’t Mow Let It Grow project volunteers learn how to manage a meadow using an Austrian Scythe. Scything is a traditional hay meadow cutting technique and is perfect for managing our meadows, as well as for areas that are more tricky to manage with modern machinery. Neil Foulkes, expertly guided the volunteers through a beginners training session on the traditional skill and art of scything. They learn how to set up, sharpen and maintain an Austrian scythe, along with safe use and correct cutting … [Read more...] about Scything Through Riverside Park

  Scything is a traditional hay meadow cutting technique and is perfect for managing your own meadows, as well as for areas that are more tricky to manage with modern machinery. Join Neil Foulkes for a beginners training session on the traditional skill and art of scything. You will learn how to set up, sharpen and maintain an Austrian scythe, along with safe use and correct cutting techniques. Only 2 places left.   Please contact Rachel Bain if interested - Rachel.Bain@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk … [Read more...] about Austrian Scythe Training 7th April

Key information gathered from the Public Perception Survey, which was carried out to provide evidence to support the benefits of Don’t Mow Let it Grow, includes: In total, 263 people participated in the survey in 2017 Around 98% of respondents think it is important to manage areas in NI for wildlife 87% of respondents prefer the longer grass shown in photos to shortly mown grass The highest proportion of people felt it was important to help endangered pollinators, followed by providing an area where wild flowers can provide food for wild life, providing an area where wildflowers … [Read more...] about Public Perception Survey Results 2017

Like many land managers the wet weather this year has made it extremely difficult for us to cut and remove the grass from our don’t mow site, but we were able to take advantage of a weather window last week, when the ground had dried up enough to get machinery on site, to cut and bail one of the bigger grass areas in Riverside Ballymoney. While the grass is no longer good for fodder we were able to take it to our green waste site for composting. https://vimeo.com/247169999 It is important to try and cut and remove the grass ideally late summer, weather permitting, to help reduce the … [Read more...] about Mowing in Riverside Park, Ballymoney

Oliver won first prize for fancy dress for the Garden Theme at Ballymoney and District Gardening Show. We think he did a great job!!   … [Read more...] about Congratulations Oliver

The careful management of cuts begins this morning. The first Don't Mow, Let It Grow cut of 2017 is at Ramore Head with a remote control slope mower. It is important all the cuttings are lifted, to make sure this site will flourish in 2018.   Rachel has been out and about promoting the project as much as possible. Keep an eye out for her at events in the Causeway Coast and Glens area.   … [Read more...] about The managed cutting of the DMLIG verges starts now!

As the successful environmental project Don’t Mow, Let It Grow continues to vastly improve biodiversity in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, there is a need to understand the public’s perception of the scheme. A short survey can be completed online, which aims to build a picture of what the project is currently achieving. It is a chance for the public to contribute their thoughts and opinions which will help develop the project further and promote the importance of it. The Public Perception Survey can be found at dontmowletitgrow.com/public-perception-survey/  Don’t Mow, Let It Grow … [Read more...] about Don’t Mow, Let It Grow Have Your Say!

Riverside Park, Ballymoney was the focus of  a wildflower wander on Friday afternoon, lead by the Don’t Mow Let It Grow team. Although the sun was struggling to shine the flowers were in fine bloom with bumblebees and butterflies  out enjoying their nectar. The wildflower wander took in the five Don’t Mow Let IT Grow meadow areas in the park, which boast a stunning array of wildflowers including selfheal, common spotted orchid, greater birdsfoot trefoil, yellow rattle, tufted and bush vetch to name but a few. We were also lucky to see common carder and white-tailed bumblebees, and … [Read more...] about Don’t Mow’s Wildflower Wander

Its not just the flowers and insects that have suffered at Drumcroon Rd The Drumcroon Rd verge has been managed for several years by a local farmer on behalf of the project for the benefit of the wildflowers and insects, and as part of this he takes the hay produced as winter fodder for his cattle. Which his cattle greatly prefer over silage. Despite his best efforts to make the best of this malicious cutting and get the cut grass bailed, he was unable to do so before the grass was ruined by the torrential rain last week. So not only has the management of the site been compromised but … [Read more...] about *UPDATE* VANDALISM OF THE DRUMCROON ROAD VERGE NEAR GARVAGH

  Come along to this family event for an afternoon of discovery! Join Rachel Bain, Local Biodiversity Officer and Dave Allen, wildlife expert, for a gentle stroll through the wildlife haven that is Riverside Park. Looking at the stunning array of wildflowers that have come to flourish there as part of the Don’t Mow, Let It Grow project, and marvel at the array of butterflies, bees and other insects that they support. As well as taking a wander through the wider park enjoying all it has to offer. We will be doing a ‘show and tell’ of the different wildflower and using butterfly nets … [Read more...] about Experience the Wonderful World of Wildflowers, Butterflies & Bumblebees in Ballymoneys Riverside Park