Don't Mow Let It Grow

This exciting project is led by Causeway Coast to focus on the conservation of semi-natural grassland over the next three years.

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Wildflower Identification Walk, Riverside Park, Ballymoney

Sat 21st July 2-4pm Join Rachel Bain, Project Manager and Dave Allen, Allen & Mellon Environmental, for a walk through Riverside Park, looking at the 5 areas of meadows being managed as part of the Don’t Mow Let It Grow Project. Looking at the wildflowers flourishing in these meadows and learning how to identify them. Dave Allen has over 35 years’ experience of working in the environment sector with particular expertise in habitat management, lepidoptera and ornithology. Dave is also a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Meeting in … [Read more...] about Wildflower Identification Walk, Riverside Park, Ballymoney

Don’t Mow Let It Grows Bee Identification Day

On Saturday 30th June Roe Valley Country Park hosted Don’t Mow Let It Grows Bee identification training event. We all learned a great deal about our native bee species, how to identify them and what we can do to help them. We braved the heat to spot some in the surrounding meadows, and a few made an appearance, but as our trainer for morning explained it can get too hot for our bumble bees too, as they are wearing their own stylish fur coats! … [Read more...] about Don’t Mow Let It Grows Bee Identification Day

Don’t Mow at the Salmon and Whiskey Festival

The Don’t Mow Let It Grow roadshow enjoyed a lovely weekend at the Salmon & Whiskey Festival in Bushmills, with lots of people dropping in to show their support and ask questions about the project and their own wildlife areas, along with their children who were having fun colouring in Bizzy Flo and friends and planting wildflower seeds in paper pots to take home. On the Saturday we were in the lovely Millennium Park next to one of our own Don’t Mow Let It Grow Meadows, and on the Sunday we were invited to join in the fun at the River Bush Salmon Station.   … [Read more...] about Don’t Mow at the Salmon and Whiskey Festival

Bee Inspired

Sat 30th June, Roe Valley Country Park, Limavady We will be hosting a bee inspired morning of events with Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) at Roe Valley Country Park. There will be 2 events running simultaneously: Bee identification workshop, 10 – 12noon, for those interested in learning about our native bees, their identification and habitats, led by Aoibhinn Corrigan, NIEA. This will be in the form of a short talk followed by identification in the field. Please dress appropriately for the outdoors including waterproofs and sturdy footwear. Children under 18 must be accompanied … [Read more...] about Bee Inspired

Pollinator inspired Talks – 31/5/18

Thurs 31st May 7.30-9pm Dance studio, Roe Valley Arts Centre, Limavady Come along to an evening of short talks inspired by our pollinators. Hear from Catherine Bertrand, Butterfly Conservation about our beautiful butterflies and marvellous moths. Melina Quinn, NIEA, will talk about the ambitious work of the All Ireland Pollinator action plan and the many ways you can get involved. Rachel Bain, will share with you the inspiring Don’t Mow Let It Grow grassland project. Jim Loughrey, Roe Valley Beekeepers’ Association, will talk about the wonder of honeybees and the invaluable contribution they … [Read more...] about Pollinator inspired Talks – 31/5/18

Don’t Mow Let It Grow Volunteer Surveyor Training

Sat 26th May 2pm – 5pm, starting Ballymoney Townhall, Townhead Street, Ballymoney This will consist of a brief indoor session before heading out to one of the projects grassland sites to find out exactly what is involved and brush up on our species identification skills. The training will be led by Dave Allen, Allen & Mellon Environmental, Dave has forgotten more about grassland species and management than most people will ever know! We will be focusing on some of the more common species, both positive and negative indicator species, as well as seeing what else we come across. As a … [Read more...] about Don’t Mow Let It Grow Volunteer Surveyor Training

Spring has arrived!

The first signs of the long overdue spring have arrived with the dandelions and the cuckooflower. The orange-tip butterfly, a distinctive species of spring, relies on the cuckooflower for its caterpillar food plant, and the Dandelions as a source of nectar.  These early wildflowers are also important for our bee species including our bumblebees and solitary bees which rely on the dandelions as a source of early nectar as they provision their nests in order to raise their young, critical for maintaining and growing our pollinator population which has been in decline for several decades now. … [Read more...] about Spring has arrived!