Biodiversity-Strategy-January-2023

56 Maintaining, Enhancing and Restoring Biodiversity Action for Pollinators Woodland and Tree Planting and Management Applications for Funding to Support Biodiversity Land Management Through ‘Don’t Mow Let It Grow’: • The purchase of a grass cutting machine suitable for long grass cut and lift. • Liaison with DfI Roads on signage and cutting regimes at key roadside verges. • Setting up of internal working group on pesticide reduction across Council land. Outreach and influencing • In 2020, over 5000 packets of wildflower seeds freely given to the public. • 200 packets have been distributed to schools through workshops, gifts and prizes. • As part of the seasonal workshops for schools, pollinator workshops are delivered to 400 children annually. • Over 120 heritage apple trees planted through ‘Trees for Bees.’ The Council has been working in partnership to plant trees and woodlands for several years on Council land and where possible, with community groups and schools. Since 2017, over 7000 trees have been planted, of which 120 are heritage apple trees for the ‘Trees for Bees’ initiative. Through DAERA, we plan to apply for and plant new native woodlands in 2021-2022. As land is identified and deemed suitable, more tree planting will be planned annually. Funded projects applied for and delivered across many themes since 2016 include: • Invasive Alien Species project though LELP and Heritage Fund (£19.8k). • Sloughan Glen ASSI path works through NIEA Challenge Fund (£28k). • Waterways Ireland Heritage Fund (£1600). • ‘Beelicious’ from Heritage Fund (£7k), delivering land management changes and training for key sites. • Forthill Park Tree Trail, interpretation, and planting. • Enniskillen Workhouse heritage education on bats and swifts. 10.0 Appendices