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The lapwings of LisnaskeaLast modified: 06 November 2009
Imagine having a whole area of international conservation importance on your doorstep? Would you be in the Amazon, Sumatra or the Grand Canyon? What about Lisnaskea in Co Fermanagh? On 4 November, 2009, students from Lisnaskea High School got to know the internationally important wetlands of Upper Lough Erne a little better with the RSPB. They took photographs of the area to enter the RSPB’s “Nature’s Hotspot” competition. The competition is part of the RSPB’s campaign to get people out into their local Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and celebrate how important it is for wildlife. With them was RSPB’s Lapwing Project Officer, Lorna Whiteside. “Lough Erne is critical for breeding waders, like lapwing, redshank and curlew,” she said. “Many farmers around this area now manage their land under agri-environment schemes such as the Countryside Management Scheme (CMS). They graze their fields over the winter to provide suitable sites for these ground-nesting birds. They also ensure that wet areas are not drained or ‘improved’ as these contain lots of insect food for both adults and chicks.” Using an interactive quiz, the students were challenged to find out more about how Lough Erne benefits wildlife, people and the local economy and spread the word among their local community. The findings will be presented at the Photographic Award Ceremony later this month at Stormont. “Working with schools is very rewarding it is such a good way of highlighting the importance of these valuable and beautiful areas,” said Lorna. “So often we think that wetlands are unproductive; that could not be further from the truth. A healthy wetland ecosystem provides people with natural resources like clean water and free ecosystem services such as reed beds, which act like a giant sponge to store floodwater and filter impurities coming from households and industry.” “It is great to get out of the classroom onto the shores of beautiful Lough Erne right on our doorstep,” commented Melanie Nelson, from Lisnaskea High School. “We appreciate how it provides fantastic leisure opportunities fishing, cruising, touring and walking being the most popular for local people and tourists. In 2004, NITB statistics showed that tourists spent £25.9 million in Fermanagh. Lough Erne is amazing and we are looking forward to meeting our environment minister at Stormont to ask that Lough Erne is protected for us to enjoy now and in the future.” For more information about ASSIs and how you can get involved in the campaign, go to www.rspb.org.uk/nothernireland.
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Curlew feeding in grassy field - Steve Round
Red admiral on Michaelmas daisy - Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)