Scrub Management

Hazel scrub is having major effect on both the biodiversity and the archaeology of the region.

Hazel Scrub—Friend or foe?

Since their inception in 2010, the Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers have been heavily involved with scrub clearing in various locations for various conservation reasons.  However people often ask why.  Historically the Burren was cleared of its hazel dominated scrub to make way for farming, but with diminishing rural populations and changing farming practices, the scrub is encroaching across the land having an adverse effect on the habitats of the region. Today scrub has become an issue for a whole variety of reasons such as taking over flower-rich pastures which are used for winter grazing, damaging archaeology and encroaching on other important habitats sometimes vital to endangered species.   If scrub was allowed to completely take over it could possibly turn the Burren into a nearly mono-culture woodland with limited biodiversity and few options for farming, but good for other species like mosses and lichens.   As these areas become overrun by hazel other habitats such as orchid-rich grassland with important dependent species of insects would be in  serious decline.  It would seem a balance between a bit of hazel woodland but not too much is the optimum for biodiversity in the Burren.

What projects are the volunteers involved in

The Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers have taken on different projects to maximise the conservation of the region.  At present the volunteers have two main scrub clearing projects in action. One is centred around an important butterfly breeding site at Fahee, Carron, where too much scrub will block the sunlight necessary for the fritillary caterpillars to mature, and would also result in the loss of the caterpillars preferred food plant.

Our second project is preventing scrub from engulfing the  Cappagh tower house*.  Both projects have had a positive effect on the biodiversity and /or the archaeology of the locale.   Not only are the volunteers learning about the conservation of these sites but they are getting actively involved.   So how do they actually do it?  Well in hard to reach areas, such as those in which the volunteers work, a chainsaw would be the obvious tool of choice. Unfortunately due to insurance the BCV can only use hand tools – loppers, hand saws and secateurs. *Clearing scrub away from monuments requires the relevant paperwork to be completed and the volunteers wish to thank Dr Sharon Parr managing the Cappagh project. It also requires us to work in close conjunction with local archaeologists.

When to clear scrub

Currently it is illegal to clear scrub between the 1^st March and the 31^st August in order to help protect habitats during the nesting and breeding season. During this period it is also illegal to cut hedgerows and burn vegetation, unless it is necessary for health and safety reasons. At present  there is a movement to extend the legal cutting season and various organisations have requested the closed season to be limited to 17^th March – 31^st July or thereabouts, in the interests of road safety. No decision has been made as of yet but the earlier start date is worrying as it may put late hatching chicks at risk.

What can be done with scrub once it is felled?

It can be chipped for use in gardens, burnt on site or stacked neatly out of sight where possible. The volunteers aren’t insured to burn or chip, but they do attempt where possible to sort the useable wood into different piles for volunteers to take home. The good wood can be used for a variety of different purposes such as walking poles, poles for the garden or sticks for the fire.  The stacking of cut scrub must be done carefully, where possible attempting not to cover other important habitats.

In case you wish to do this yourself, you must comply with the laws and regulations governing scrub removal and have the relevant permissions/licences in place before you begin work – for more information you can contact the BurrenLife project (www.burrenlife.com) or the National Parks and Wildlife department (www.npws.ie).

Why not join us

So, are you interested to be part of maintaining the Burren’s history, culture and precious ecosystems? If so, why not join the fun and enthusiastic team of conservation volunteers, share your passion for the Burren with others and make a huge difference to the biodiversity and maintenance of this unique landscape. Becoming a volunteer offers you an opportunity to build skills, knowledge about place and indeed, lasting friendships.

This is an active group of conservation volunteers that have been working in areas of archaeology conservation, rare species monitoring, managing scrub encroachment and much more since 2010.  We have 1-2 events a month.

• Get outdoors, enjoy some healthy exercise and give something back in the region
• Learn new skills in conservation and heritage management
• Be part of a friendly, inclusive and active conservation community

Join us today and make that difference!  To register for the events email [email protected]

What are the upcoming events for the volunteers

What other ongoing projects are the volunteers involved in:

drystone walling  archaeological surveys

species monitoring   landscape management   invasive species

What have the volunteers achieved?

View below all the activities that the Burrenbeo Conservation volunteers have achieved since 2010: