Ulster Wildlife Secures Future of Rare Nature Reserve in Northern Ireland

Ulster Wildlife has protected a rare and intact example of traditional pre-war farmland in Northern Ireland through a £150,000 funding award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Fedian Nature Reserve, located near Derrygonnelly, is a living example of species-rich grassland and ancient woodland, home to threatened species such as red squirrels, pine martens, and otters. The reserve, which is the last remaining fragment of traditional pre-war farmland in Northern Ireland, will continue to be actively farmed, with low numbers of cattle grazed across the site to maintain the wildflower-rich grasslands.

Key Takeaways:

• The Fedian Nature Reserve is a 90-acre farmland haven in Northern Ireland that has been secured for nature by Ulster Wildlife, thanks to a £150,000 funding award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• The reserve is home to several threatened species, including red squirrels, pine martens, and otters, as well as a wealth of wildflowers and insects such as marsh fritillary butterflies and dingy skipper butterflies.
• The site will continue to be actively farmed, with traditional grazing methods used to maintain the wildflower-rich grasslands, which are home to a range of rare and threatened plant species.
• The reserve will serve as a model for nature-friendly farming, with Ulster Wildlife hosting demonstration events, knowledge-sharing with local farmers, and annual guided walks for the community and Ulster Wildlife members.
• The charity aims to extend habitat connectivity and support nature's recovery across a wider Fermanagh landscape through its Environmental Farming Scheme programme.

Statistics:

• £150,000: The amount of funding awarded to Ulster Wildlife by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to acquire the species-rich grasslands of Fedian Nature Reserve.
• 90 acres: The size of the Fedian Nature Reserve, which is the last remaining fragment of traditional pre-war farmland in Northern Ireland.
• 8 years: The amount of time it took Ulster Wildlife to secure the future of the reserve through their Environmental Farming Scheme Group programme.
• £150,000 is not enough to create a new site like the Fedian Nature Reserve, according to Peter McEvoy, director of land management at Ulster Wildlife, who stated that it would take tens, if not hundreds, of years to recreate a site of exceptional nature value.

Sources:

• Ulster Wildlife
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• The Wildlife Trusts