Biodiversity - Objectives and Workstreams - Environment - Translink
Biodiversity >>
Background >>
Project >>
Stations, Sites & Species >>
Further Information & Stories >>
‘Do one more thing’ for wildlife >>
Biodiversity Audit >>
Ulster Wildlife Trust >>
Contact Details >>
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the whole variety of all living things on earth, from habitats where our plants and animals live, to individual plants, animals and fungi. It includes not only rare and threatened species but also the common. Biodiversity can be found almost everywhere, from ancient oak woodland to coastal sand dunes and our rich marine environment.
Background
Translink, in partnership with the Ulster Wildlife Trust, have taken a positive and proactive approach to complying with statutory duties and obligations by funding a Biodiversity Project. The extent of Translink’s business, operating a bus and rail service across Northern Ireland incorporating a range of properties, structures and land, has warranted the creation of a post focusing on biodiversity. The extent as well as type of property that the company manages is impressive – over 200 miles of railway corridor alone.
Biodiversity is short for biological diversity – it is the total variety of all living things on earth: people, plants and animals and the places or habitats where they live. Biodiversity received international recognition with the signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 by 150 world governments at the Rio Earth Summit, paving the way for individual countries targets and action plans.
Project
The project will be run over 3 years from late June 2007. The project officer will undertake an audit of Translink’s properties and landholdings and from this will deliver a Biodiversity Action Plan. Issues identified by this process will be addressed. These could include the development of appropriate conservation advisory notes, educational and training events for staff and contractors and promotion of biodiversity through various mediums.
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| Project Banner Stand | School children from Whitehead who built Biodiversity Boxes for the Larne line train stations. |
Much of the rail network runs adjacent to areas that are important for conservation such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) like the Bann Estuary and also other designated sites such as Nature Reserves eg Brakagh Bog south of Portadown. Sites that have European and domestic designations have been recognised for their biodiversity value however, whether sites are designated or not, they will likely have a level of protection under domestic legislation such as that which protects hedgerows during bird nesting season.
It is important that Translink recognises its responsibilities and duties in relation to internationally- and nationally-important habitats and species. The organisation is also a large land owner and through training and education initiatives, it is expected that staff will be better equipped to recognise the opportunities and actions that they can incorporate into their work plans and projects to the benefit of wildlife.
Further information and stories
Station posters developed by the project >>
'Swift Action' article >>
Milford Cutting Nature Reserve >>
'Do one more thing' for Wildlife >>
Station Posters Developed by the Project
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| Autumn-Winter 2007-2008 | Spring-Summer 2008 |
One such enquiry was made in early 2008 when a local resident contacted us to explore the idea of Translink participating in a swift nest box scheme for his area. Swifts migrate from central and southern Africa each spring to these shores to breed, gravitating to the eaves and roofspaces of older buildings or modern buildings that can accommodate them. A bus depot in his area, it seems, offers prime summer residences for these overseas visitors – the location being the outside wall of the depot where nest boxes could be erected.
Rose Cremin, Translink Biodiversity Officer explains: “The problem for swifts in Northern Ireland is that they have traditionally nested in large colonies in old buildings, many of which were built in the late 19th century and are now being demolished or refurbished. The Northern Ireland Swift Group has reported colonies which have had their numbers halved in the past 20 years or been completely lost due to lack of nesting sites, so it’s important we do our bit to help.”
There are simple measures that can be taken to accommodate these impressive long-distance flyers – for example, being sensitive when redeveloping or using internal or external nest boxes on buildings – and there is plenty of information out there to guide you. Most likely we can all make space for wildlife; in this instance it is the swift species where a bus depot offers an ideal wall to put boxes up on. No doubt there are other opportunities for wildlife that Translink can accommodate, where practicable, with a little help from us.
Millford Cutting Nature Reserve
This small, secluded nature reserve managed by the Ulster Wildlife Trust is a former railway line, outside of Armagh City.
Millford Cutting Nature Reserve
The cutting includes a variety of habitats including a mix of flowery calcareous grasslands and scrubby woodland.
Find out more about the reserve >>
‘Do one more thing’ for wildlife
There are lots of ways each and every one of us can make a difference to our local natural environment without taking on the world. It’s all about making time and space in our busy lives.
Doing one more thing to help wildlife locally is easy and what’s more it’s great fun and good for your health too! Why not put a bird feeder, make your own compost for heaps of success, get close to nature on a wild walk or roll up your sleeves and volunteer for a local conservation charity? There are lots of simple ways you can get started and you once you get going, perhaps you’ll find the time to ‘do one more thing’ and spread the message to your friends and family!
Supporting the work of a local conservation charity like the Ulster Wildlife Trust by becoming a member is another great way to ‘do your bit’. In return, you can enjoy wonderful places to visit, great family days out and get involved in efforts to protect our local wildlife and wild places. To find out what you can do for wildlife and to support the Ulster Wildlife Trust’s 30th anniversary ‘Year of Action’ campaign, visit www.ulsterwildlifetrust.org
Biodiversity Audit
Translink’s operations are spread across Northern Ireland, in the form of a railway and bus network with their associated track, buildings, structures, grounds etc. An audit of the biodiversity interest on Translink property has been delivered as part of Year 1 of the project.
- You can download a copy here >> or
- if you would rather have a hardcopy sent to you, please email rose.cremin@translink.co.uk and this can be arranged.
Occurring in and around the organisation’s network, particularly, rail, there is a good variety of priority and locally-important habitats with their associated species. Using a variety of information sources coupled with ground-truthing, we have gained a broad understanding of what features and species occur across the network.
Eight Northern Ireland priority habitats have been identified along with locally-important habitats. These include ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, wet woodland, veteran trees, maritime cliffs and slopes and rivers and streams. We have conservatively identified twenty-two Northern Ireland priority and locally-important species.
This audit document will assist in the development of a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), where habitats and species will be selected for action. Projects will be initiated to assist the conservation and enhancement of these, focusing primarily on habitats but also on species-specific requirements.
The Ulster Wildlife Trust
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The UWT is a local nature conservation charity, working across Without a biodiverse environment, we are all under threat – people and wildlife. We believe in taking local nature conservation action to secure the survival of life, acting locally, thinking globally. |
The Biodiversity Project is a partnership between Translink and the Ulster Wildlife Trust. For further information or to get involved, please contact Rose Cremin, Translink Biodiversity Officer at email rose.cremin@translink.co.uk or mobile 077-38886175.
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