Biodiversity-Strategy-January-2023

39 Communication Communication about biodiversity to the wider public through websites, social media, local newspapers, community newsletters, interpretation panels onsite and various online platforms is central to the key outcome, ‘promoting biodiversity’ of the Biodiversity Duty, and is integral throughout all our Biodiversity Action Themes. Information about biodiversity in the District and how people can engage/help locally is readily available on the Council, Global Geopark and partner websites, throughout social media platforms and periodically through Council newsletters such as ‘in-FO’. More efforts are needed to promote ‘Nature Positive’ messages to the wider public in collaboration with championing climate action through the Council’s implementation of the FODC Climate Change and Sustainable Development Action Plan. Influencing change in behaviours to deliver an improved environment is essential to tackle both the climate and biodiversity crises. Sloughan Glen (known locally as Slavin Glen) Explore the hidden world of Sloughan Glen, following the winding paths underneath this oak woodland to discover the breath-taking waterfalls. Home to a wide range of birds, wildflowers, insects and mammals, this woodland is a biodiversity haven. It is part of the Sloughan andWillmount Glens Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), which are protected areas that represent the best of Northern Ireland’s wildlife and geological sites. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Abird indecline, thecuckooarrives fromNorthAfrica fromApril onwards,which iswhen themale “cuck-oo”callcanbefirstheard. The females lay theireggs inotherbirds’nestssuchasmeadowpipits onbogordunnocks inwoodland.Thehostparents then lookafter andraise thecuckoochicksas theirown, leaving thecuckoo to lay eggs inothernestsand thenreturnhome inJuly. Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Theredsquirrel,aprotectedspecies,hasareddish-browncoat, large ear tuftsandbushy tailandaresmaller than the introducednon-native greysquirrel. Redsquirrelsmakeanest from twigs, leavesandmoss calleda “drey”,which looks likea football in the treesandusually locatedclose to the tree trunk. Theycanbeeasilyspotted inwinter when the leaveshave fallen. Ferns SloughanGlen’shighhumidity,alongwith theseepageofwater over therock faces,provides idealconditions foradiverse rangeof ferns likehart’s tongue togrowand include the nationallyrarespecies,beech fern. Woodland flowers Visit inspring through tosummerandseeanexplosionof colour. Youcouldspotwildflowers likegreaterwood-rushand bluebell,or insomespots,woodanemone, lessercelandine andopposite-leavedgolden-saxifrage. What can you spot today? SloughanGlenwalkwasupgraded and reopened in2020 andwaspart fundedby DAERA’sEnvironmentalChallengeFund andFermanagh andOmaghDistrictCouncil. PHOTOCREDITS: Waterfallphoto is copyright toLiamMcClean and all remainingphotos are copyright toLaurieCampbell Walk information Thisshortwoodlandwalk leadsup theglen toa spectacularwaterfall.Fromhereretraceyoursteps back to thecarpark. Therearesomesteepsteps along thiswalk. Formore informationon thisandotherwalks within theFermanaghandOmaghDistrictCouncilareaand toview thispanel indifferent formats,pleasevisit theCouncil websiteat www.fermanaghomagh.com Pleaseremember topractice theprinciplesof ’LeaveNoTrace’ whenenjoying the outdoors .Formore information,visit www.leavenotraceireland.org Oak Quercus petraea InSloughanGlenyouwillfindsessileoak trees,deciduousbroadleaved treeswhichcanreachup to40metres tall. Squirrels, jaysandbadgers love theiracornsandcaterpillarsflock toeat the leaves. In fact,326 speciesofwildlifeare foundonlyonoak,making themoneof thebest native trees forbiodiversity. Hazel Corylus avellana Hazelrarelygrowsabove6metresand is found inwoodlandunderstory or inhedgerows. Hazel leavesarevital food forsomemothcaterpillars. Theircatkinsor lambs’ tails inspring feedhungrybeeswithnectarand inautumnproducehazelnuts, lovedbybothanimalsandhumans! 9.5 Theme 5: Education and Outreach An example of interpretive signage at Sloughan Glen containing information about the biodiversity of the area.