Water Street Association grow into season with new course
The Water Street Association Castlepollard has received financial support to protect nature and wildlife. The grant from Community Foundation Ireland in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service will ensure that the steps to protect biodiversity will be guided by the expert knowledge of ecologists.
Rachel Cassen, chairperson of Water Street Association, said: “We are thrilled to work with a local ecologist to protect and restore biodiversity in Castlepollard. This plan will safeguard our natural environment and also educate and inspire the community to take action for a sustainable future.”
Nationally, 94 projects are receiving support and more than 250 communities have been implementing local action plans since the partnership between the Community Foundation and the Parks and Wildlife Service started in 2019.
The support being provided comes from philanthropists and donors to the foundation matched with public funding.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan, TD, said: “If we are to successfully tackle our national biodiversity crisis, we must all work together.
“This partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Community Foundation Ireland is a great example of how we can empower and support community organisations to learn about their local biodiversity and use that knowledge along with their creativity to come up with plans that are unique to their areas. I’m really impressed with the range of projects involved and look forward to seeing the outcomes of their work.”
More than €591,000 is being provided under the current round to 94 projects.
Denise Charlton, chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, added: “We are particularly proud that local efforts to protect habitats, plants and wildlife are increasingly growing into a national movement.
The fact that this current grant round is impacting in every county shows the groundswell of support for biodiversity action. The partnership of the foundation, its philanthropists and community partners together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service is effective and works. Our natural heritage is being protected for generations to come.”
About Water Street Association
Water Street Association is a community, environmental and cultural association in Castlepollard. Some of the founding members had worked together before on community projects and came together in 2022 to develop a place-based initiative in the town.
Water Street Association exists to build the community, grow the circular economy and support biodiversity. Members create community celebrations and cultural events, bringing back old traditions and establishing new ones too.
Their vision is: A thriving town that focuses on community wellbeing and environmental sustainability for the benefit of current and future generations.
Water Street Association Plans
Working in partnership with the people of Castlepollard and other groups in the community, such as Tidy Towns, Water Street Association’s plans include a Neighbourwood – an accessible, woodland amenity for public use and enjoyment, a biodiversity garden and community gardens. The Biodiversity Action Plan will help to guide those plans.
To complement them, Water Street Association will offer a four-week hands-on gardening programme designed to kick-start the growing season using sustainable, chemical-free methods. Participants will learn no-dig gardening techniques, grow vegetables, herbs and flowers using organic seeds and compost, and build a New Zealand box compost bin.
The programme will also explore the culinary and medicinal uses of herbs and support pollinator-friendly planting.
The course starts on April 12; if you want more information, email waterstreetassoc@gmail.com.
Other groups to receive grants
Some 252 communities across the country have been supported by the Community Foundation and the Parks Service since 2019. The latest groups in Westmeath are:
Milltownpass Tidy Towns (€7,000) to implement key actions from an existing local biodiversity action plan including education, community engagement and proactive measures that support restoration of biodiversity, including a riparian planting scheme as part of a larger Milltown River project.
Mullingar Tidy Towns (€9,700) to install biodiversity information boards in the town park. With both written and visual content, there will also be a QR code for students on nature trails and for all the general public to be able to view and learn and understand the beauty what surrounds the community in the park.
Athlone GAA (€5,000) to work with an ecologist to a community biodiversity action plan. The plan will map the grounds, highlighting species which live on or adjacent to pitches and buildings. Make recommendations on both native and protected plants and wildlife.
Ballinahown Development Association (€10,000) to enhance flower beds and install a bee and insect hotel to front of parochial house. Flower beds at the church are to be planted with pollinator friendly flowers preferred by insects. Partnered with the local school to increase awareness including one or more ‘green walls’ on the school building with herbs, tomatoes and strawberries.
Tyrrellspass Tidy Towns (€10,000) and Water Street Association (€5,000).