Burrenbeo Snapshot September 2021

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Burrenbeo September 2021 Snapshot

The small, remote and isolated stone cottages one might come across when out walking high up on the Burren hills (such as the one seen in the image above) were usually the homes of ‘herdsmen’ and their families, part of a fascinating Burren farming tradition. The herdsman’s job was to manage the livestock of other farmers, usually bigger ‘ranchers’ who farmed elsewhere but owned a winterage in the Burren. Instead of a wage, herdsmen usually received a ‘freedom’ consisting of the use of a house as well as the freedom to graze an agreed number of cattle, horses, sheep, goats – and sometimes even geese! – on the land they managed.

Thank you as ever for your continued interest in and support of our work. For those who do not yet, we invite you to Support Us by becoming a member or donating.

“The ABC of Earthwonders”: The Life of the Tim Robinson Map Archive with Nessa Cronin

A Members-only Wonderful Wednesday Webinar

8pm, 8th Sept, 2021

Registration link sent to members

The extraordinary work of Tim Robinson, the English writer, cartographer, mathematician, artist and illustrator who made a series of beautiful and intricate maps of the Aran Islands, the Burren and of Connemara will be the focus of the talk by Dr Nessa Cronin in the next members’ webinar. Dr.Cronin is a lecturer in Irish Studies and Programme Director of MA in Irish Studies from School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, NUI Galway. Registration link will be sent to members. You can sign up to be a Burrenbeo member here.

Burrenbeo launches

The Hare’s Corner

A new project to help Clare landowners make a little more space for nature

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new project through which we aim to support Clare landowners to create a mini woodland, a pond or an orchard on their land. Participants will be selected on a first come, first served basis, subject to some basic selection criteria. The Phase 1 call for applications is now open and will close on September 6th. Further calls may be made subject to available funding. You can find further information on the project and application form on burrenbeo.com/thc

This project is being funded by the Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through The European Innovation Partnerships Initiative (EIP)/Locally led schemes, by the EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022 as well as the Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Burren Yellow Rattle seed now available to buy on our online shop for a limited time only.

Harvested from a beautiful meadow in the Burren by Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers, these seeds of the valuable yellow rattle wildflowers are now available to buy for a limited time only. Yellow rattle, also known as ‘the meadow maker’ for its famous ability to suppress the growth of grass and encourage a greater diversity of wildflowers to thrive, is one of the most important plants you need for creating a natural wildflower meadow in your garden. But hurry as our limited stock won’t last!

Burrenbeo’s Monthly Members’ Walks

Our next monthly guided walk for members is on Sunday 5th of September to Corcomroe Abbey with Silvina Martin, an art historian and architectural archaeologist. A pre-booking system applies to our monthly walks and booking information for the October walk will be emailed to members.

Áitbheo Primary

Áitbheo Primary course – Burrenbeo’s place-based learning programme for primary school children will be kicking off in the next couple of weeks – Covid restrictions permitting. The course will be delivered to National Schools in Ennistymon, Inagh and Kinvara, Woodford and Oranmore. The Áitbheo Programme helps students investigate the natural, cultural and built heritage of their local place and take action in looking after it.

Save your dates for the Burren Winterage Weekend

20th-24th October 2021

This year’s Burren Winterage Weekend will contain a blend of virtual and real-time events. Key elements of the festival will include the annual Winterage cattle drive, local farm walks, online talks by some of the international leaders in sustainable farming, the Burren Winterage School – a forum to engage in a sharing and learning experience on sustainable farming through presentations, webinars, workshops and field trips and the annual National Farming for Nature awards. Details of the programme will be published soon on burrenwinterage.com

Staff news

We would like to wish our colleague Áine Bird the very best on her maternity leave. Kate Lavender will be the acting Coordinator of Burrenbeo Trust in Áine’s absence.

We would also like to extend our warm welcome to two new team members!

Karen van Dorp has joined us as a Field Technical Officer for the new Hare’s Corner project and will be liaising with landowners in Co.Clare for site assessments and biodiversity actions. Karen is an ecologist with a broad interest in natural and cultural history and has been a long time supporter and volunteer of the Trust.

John Lambe has joined us as the Administration Officer. John founded and operated a Chartered Accountancy practice in Tipperary from which he retired recently after 40 years. He is also a long time member of Burrenbeo and we are delighted that he is bringing his skills and experience to the work of the Trust.

For information on ongoing community initiatives and events, please scroll down on the
Community News and Events page

Burrenbeo Business Members’ News in brief:

The Burren Farm Experience has Burren premium Beef available to preorder and they will be delivering nationwide from September 3rd

Airmid Natural Handmade Skincare have opened a new retail shop in Ennistymon.

Burren Smokehouse and ‘Taste the Atlantic the Salmon Experience’ is now fully open daily 9.00 – 17.00.

For full information on our Business Members’ News and Events, please click here.

Support Burrenbeo’s Business friends

We encourage you to support those who support us! Find the full list of our Business Friends or check them out in the image below.

Burrenbeo Trust is a landscape charity that does not receive any core funding. We work hard to sustain our 25 plus programmes each year, connecting people with place and their role in caring for them. There are many ways you can support us.