In May 2021, after a lot of fundraising, River Moy Search and Rescue Ballina commissioned an environmental study to understand how to combat the annual summer algae blooms in the beautiful Belleek Woods Duck Pond.

I mí na Bealtaine 2021, tar éis go leor tiomsaithe airgid, choimisiúnaigh Cuardach agus Tarrtháil Bhéal an Átha na Muaidhe Béal an Átha staidéar comhshaoil chun tuiscint a fháil ar an gcaoi le dul i ngleic le blás algaí bliantúla an tsamhraidh i Lochán Lacha álainn Belleek Woods.

In 2022, we secured grant aid from The Community Foundation for Ireland to commission a study of the biodiversity of this majestic forest.

In 2022, fuaireamar cúnamh deontais ó Fhondúireacht Pobail na hÉireann chun staidéar a choimisiúnú ar bhithéagsúlacht na foraoise maorga seo.

The Biodiversity Action Plan was developed by Dr. Catherine O’Connell, and we are very grateful to her for such detailed and amazing work.

D’fhorbair an Dr. Catherine O’Connell an Plean Gníomhaíochta Bithéagsúlachta, agus táimid an-bhuíoch di as obair chomh mion agus iontach.

In September 2022 RMSAR were delighted to announce that we have secured a grant of €12,000 from the AXA Parks Fund to set pollinator friendly plants in Belleek Woods.

In our commitment to the river Moy and the ecology surrounding it , RMSAR are taking part in a national drive to promote local green spaces, biodiversity and community connections with new funding, secured through the AXA Parks Fund.

RMSAR ” Belleek Woods Reinvigoration Project using Pollinator Friendly Plants” is one of the selected projects committed to enhancing community connections and environments by improving local infrastructure and amenities, after receiving support from the new AXA Parks Fund, which is promoting green spaces across all 32 counties.

People of all ages will have access to a green space which will not only help improve health and wellbeing but will also seek address the bio-diversity emergency which has seen many flowers, plants, trees and animals in danger, or in some cases disappear.

The project will reinvigorate Belleek Woods with pollinator friendly plants under the supervision of an ecologist.

“The support of the AXA Parks Fund through The Community Foundation for Ireland is a great help in turning our vision into reality. Local green spaces are vital assets which should be protected, promoted and supported. Our work now will not only deliver benefits for local people now but will help ensure the survival of our local biodiversity to be enjoyed for generations to come.”

This project is one of 84 being undertaken by community groups across Ireland with funding totalling €900,000 from the AXA Parks Fund.

Antoinette McDonald, Director of Marketing at AXA said “AXA Parks is about helping local communities to thrive by empowering them with the resources they need to bring projects to life. Small, local groups continue to work tirelessly to deliver meaningful projects in their local communities. The grants announced today will become alive over the coming months as the community projects take shape and will brighten up the countryside for everyone next Spring and Summer.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland added: “AXA Parks is helping enhance and develop green spaces for people of all ages and will be a gathering point for local communities. We are delighted to play an active role in this grants programme, which aligns with our own commitment to Sustainable Futures for all. The AXA Parks Fund hands communities the tools they need to make change in their own areas, centering local expertise and insight in an inspiring range of projects across the island supporting thriving ecosystems and stronger communities.”

#axaparksfund#belleekwoods#RiverMoy#LoveBallina

In October 2022, in conjunction with Belleek Woods Enhancement Committee and Coillte, we started working on this and we planted 1,500 bluebells and 200 wood anemones, sourced from an Irish grower. They were planted at the Belleek North car park at Knocknatinnole.

I mí Mheán Fómhair 2022 bhí an-áthas ar RMSAR a fhógairt go bhfuil deontas de €12,000 faighte againn ó Chiste Páirceanna AXA chun gléasraí atá oiriúnach do phailneoirí a shocrú i gCoill Bhéal Leice. Inár dtiomantas d’abhainn na Muaidhe agus don éiceolaíocht mórthimpeall uirthi, tá RMSAR ag glacadh páirte i dtiomantas náisiúnta chun spásanna glasa áitiúla, bithéagsúlacht agus naisc phobail a chur chun cinn le maoiniú nua, arna urrú trí Chiste Páirceanna AXA. Tá RMSAR “Tionscadal Athnuachana Belleek Woods ag baint úsáide as Gléasraí Cairdiúla do Phailineoirí” ar cheann de na tionscadail roghnaithe atá tiomanta do naisc agus timpeallachtaí pobail a fheabhsú trí bhonneagar agus taitneamhachtaí áitiúla a fheabhsú, tar éis tacaíocht a fháil ón gCiste Páirceanna AXA nua, atá ag cur spásanna glasa chun cinn ar fud na 32 contae. I mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2022, i gcomhar le Coiste Feabhsaithe Choill Bhéal Leice agus Coillte, thosaigh muid ag obair air seo agus chuireamar 1,500 cloigín agus 200 anemóin adhmaid, a fuarthas ó shaothróir Éireannach. Cuireadh iad i gcarrchlós Bhéal Leice Thuaidh ag Cnoc na Tonnóige.

There is much more planting to look forward to in 2023.