Info_Newsletter_Winter2021

12 in-FO in Fermanagh & Omagh | Winter 2021 13 www. fermanaghomagh .com Through our Local Biodiversity Action Plan, we have been delivering Biodiversity Action across the district to support the local environment and to meet our Biodiversity Duty and other wildlife legislation. Key actions include: Protection of biodiversity › Reducing our cutting at 35 locations (40 Ha) across the district to encourage native grasses and wildflowers to flourish and support pollinators. › Raising awareness of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in partnership with Lough Erne Landscape Partnership and surveying and controlling key IAS on Council estate. Maintaining, enhancing and restoring biodiversity › Planting over 7,000 trees since 2017 › 5,000+ wildflower seeds distributed to public and schools. › 400+ children taking part in pollinator workshops each year. › 120+ heritage apple trees planted through ‘Trees for Bees’. We are now an official member of Leave No Trace Ireland, underpinning our commitment to the long-term sustainability and care for our environment. The Leave No Trace Seven Principles encourage us all to take steps to protect the environment and conserve our natural and cultural heritage so everyone can enjoy the beauty of our district and benefit from being outdoors. So, when outdoors, remember to love this place, leave no trace. Love this place, leave no trace Did you know? It costs each ratepayer £46 per year to keep our streets clean within the district – this is one of the highest figures in NI. *Source Keep NI Beautiful Biodiversity action › Sign up today to receive a copy of the next edition of Happy @ Home – a magazine produced in partnership with South West Age Partnership – which includes lots of useful information and details on events and activities for the over 60s living within the district. To order your copy please use the contact details above. Love this Place Walk down memory lane with new reminiscence trails Take a trip down memory lane with a visit to the reminiscence trail, ‘Around the Meadow’, installed along the Broadmeadow pathway from Enniskillen Castle to Fermanagh Lakeland Forum. Installed as part of our ‘Age Friendly Strategy’ and with funding from the Department for Communities, the trail includes signage with photographs, some local history and a little poetry to reawaken memories of bygone days or to discover more about old times at the ‘Meadow’. An exhibition to complement the trail is currently running at Enniskillen Castle until Christmas. Taking climate action now! Your Council is committed to playing its part in the fight against climate change. In February, Council approved its first ever Climate Change and Sustainable Development Strategy, Restore, Revive, Thrive – Our Environment. This sets out the practical steps we can take over the coming years to minimise climate change impacts and identifies ways in which we can try to counter the severity of the Climate Emergency. In September, the Council approved the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Action Plan detailing the actions behind our Strategy. The Plan includes how we will focus our efforts on reducing Council emissions in areas such as energy & buildings, resource management, transport and land use, whilst at the same time embedding Just Transition principles To find out more about what we are doing to minimise climate change impacts, please visit our website www.fermanaghomagh.com i What’s next? We have drafted a new Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2027 and would love to hear your thoughts on our proposed local action for biodiversity. Visit our website to read about our proposed plans and to have your say. A reminiscence trail is now being developed in Omagh. To get involved please email us at age.friendly@fermanaghomagh.com or telephone our Community Services team. Promoting understanding of biodiversity › Visiting 40 schools per year and delivering biodiversity sessions to 1,000 pupils. › Art competition with 600 entries. › In partnership with Northern Ireland Forest School Association, 500+ pupils taking part and 20+ teachers trained to deliver outdoor learning. › Ongoing marketing and communications about local biodiversity reaching 430,000+ people on social media. into our actions to support a net zero and climate resilient economy in a way that delivers fairness and tackles inequality and injustice. We will be the first Council in NI with a Climate Change Action Plan.