BY NUALA MCALOON

Fermanagh Biodiversity Officer, Emma McLaughlin, is inviting anyone with an interest in wildlife to come along to the third meeting of the Fermanagh Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership this Saturday.

The partnership, which meets bi-annually, has carried out a range of activities dedicated towards raising awareness and improving biodiversity in the Fermanagh area.

The Fermanagh LBAP partnership will be meeting at 12.00 noon this Saturday, 11th August in the Rehearsal Studio at Ardhowen Theatre.

The meeting will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a guided walk at Ely Lodge, where Dr. Kirstin Lemon, a geologist with Marble Arch Caves European Geopark, and Martina Magee, Environment Officer with Fermanagh District Council will join the group.

The walk will help people to understand what is happening in the ground beneath their feet, and enable them discover how this has helped influence the plants that grow, and form the landscape of Fermanagh.

On the walk in the beautiful woodlands of Ely Lodge, the group will be looking for ancient trees.

With the UK and Ireland being the least wooded areas of Europe it is important to realise how truly rare these natural relicts of our past are.

Emma says "Depending on the species of tree, we will determine which trees are ancient trees by giving it a hug – that is wrapping our arms around the trunk to estimate the girth."

The findings will be sent to the Woodland Trust, who are trying to create an inventory on all ancient trees in the UK. They rely on public participation to carry out the Ancient Tree Hunt, so everyone is encouraged to come along.

Emma explains, "The Fermanagh LBAP is a process that aims to depict the wild variety of plant and animal species set in the diverse landscape in Fermanagh, and set into motion projects which will aim to both enhance, improve and maintain biodiversity in the area."

It is a local project and therefore it is of great importance that local people are involved in delivering the aims in the project.

For many this can take the form of getting out and about more in the county, embracing the Fermanagh countryside and seeing what is there, or making small changes is the garden – planting trees and feeding birds.

If you wish to find out more or have any questions related to biodiversity, you can contact Emma McLaughlin on 028 6632 5050 or email emma.mclaughlin2@ulsterwildlifetrust.org.