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Burrenbeo Trust

  • The Burren
        • Natural Heritage
        • Built & Cultural Heritage
        • Conservation
        • Visiting the region
        • Gallery
  • The Trust
        • About
        • Our Supporters
        • Achievements to date
        • FAQs
        • Contact us
  • Our Work
        • Learning
        • Events
        • Active Conservation
        • Research
        • Advocacy
  • Latest
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You are here: Home / Our Work / Active Conservation / Ongoing Projects / Scrub Management

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 1st March and the 31st 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 17th March – 31st 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 usBCV3

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 volunteer@burrenbeo.com

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:

WhenGeneral AreaWhatWhereLeaderFrom
2021BiodiversityPine Project Site Guardian TrainingTubber areaBernard Carey and Brendan Dundord
2021ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanoreK. LavenderBCV
2020ArchaeologyMonument site maintenanceCappaghS. ParrBurren Programme
2020BiodiversityHabitat MaintenanceCarron AreaBCV committeeBCV
2020BiodiversityHabitat MaintenanceCarron areaJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2020ArchaeologyMonument site managementNoughevalM&C LynchLocal archaeologists
2019BiodiversityBat site managementDromoreR. HollingsworthBCV
2019ConservationDrystone wallingPoulacarronJ. Marrinan/M. ScanlonLocal farmer/BCV
2019ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanore Caravan Park coastlineK. LavenderBCV
2019ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanoreE. O'ConnorBCV
2019ConservationMonument site managementNoughavalMichael and Clodagh Lynch
2019TrainingFirst aid training CarronBarry RedmondFirst Response
2018BiodiversityBat site managementDromoreR. HollingsworthBCV
2018ConservationCoastal Clean upFanoreW. Smith/P. McHaleBCV
2018ConservationOpen DayBallyvaughanVariousBCV committee
2018BiodiversityHabitat restorationNorth BurrenA. MullenBurren Programme
2018BiodiversityBat monitoring trainingKinvaraR. HanniffyVincent Wildlife Trust
2018ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanoreE. O'Connor/K. LavenderBCV
2018BiodiversityBat site managementDromoreR. HollingsworthBCV
2018ConservationCoastal Clean upMurrough, BlackheadK. LavenderBurrenbeo Trust
2018ArchaeologyMonument site MaintenanceBaurM&C Lynch
2018TrainingREC 2 first aid courseTuroughB. RedmondFirst Response
2017ArchaeologyMonument site managementBallycasheenRos O'MaolduinPrehistoric Field School of Archaeology
2017BiodiversityButterfly site managementFahee, CarronAnn MullenBurren Life
2017ConservationConservation Volunteering Open DayCarronBCV committee
R. O'Maolduin
J. Harding
BCV
Fieldschool of Prehistoric Archaeology
Butterfly Conservation Ireland
2017BiodiversityBat site maintenance DromoreR. Hollingsworth and S. BigganeBCV and Clare Co Co
2017BiodiversityConstructing a bat night roostFiddaunR. Hanniffy and K. McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2017ConservationTrail managementNewtown, BallyvaughanR. MorrisonIn conjunction with the Burren College or Art
2017ConservationDrystone wall repairCoolortaR. JonesBCV
2017ConservationCoastal clean upFanoreE. O'ConnorBCV
2017ConservationCoastal clean upFanoreVarious expertsBCV, Burren Shores
2017ArchaeologySite ManagementRoughan HillRos O'MaolduinNUI Galway
2016ArchaeologySite managementRoughan HillRos O'MaolduinNUI Galway
2016Invasive Alien SpeciesMapping IASCarronP. MurphyEireco
2016Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceFiddaunDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2016Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore FanoreFanore
2016Landscape managementFanore beach cleanFanore
2016ArchaeologyPost excavation work (Mar,Apr,May,Jun)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2016Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2016Monument managementScrub clearing from monuments on Roughan Hill CorofinDr Ros O MaolduinNUI Galway
2016WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2016Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2016General TrainingButterfly transect trainingCarronPaula McHale
2015Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore FanoreBlackhead
2015Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore FanoreBlackhead
2015Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2015Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2015ArchaeologyPost excavation work KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologyPost excavation workKilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologySurveying at Fanore KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologyPrehistoric hut site mapping KilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2015ArchaeologyDoolin dig (4 weeks)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologyKilcorney excavation (1 week)KilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2015Archaeology TrainingArtefact handling courseCaherconnellDr Michelle ComberNUI Galway
2015Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2015Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2015Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2015Special MonitoringBat site maintenance and emergence countRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2015Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceCarron
2015General TrainingButterfly transect trainingPaula McHale
2015General TrainingInvasive alien species ID workshop Dr Sharon Parr, Paul Murphy & Kate Lavender
2015General TrainingTwo day first aid courseRay Murphy
2014Landscape managementCoastal clean up Blackhead
2014Landscape managementCoastal clean up Blackhead
2014Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2014Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2014ArchaeologySurveying and mappingKilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2014ArchaeologyPost excavation work KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologyPost excavation workKilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologySurveying at DoolinDoolinMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologySecond Fanore excavation (3 weeks)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2014Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2014WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2014WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2014Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2014Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2014Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2014Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceFlaggy Shore
2014Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Winterage weekendBellharbour
2013Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Bells across the Burren Ballyvaughan
2013Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore Fanore
2013Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2013Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013ArchaeologyAtlas mapping dayKilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013Monument managementScrub clearing from around Doolin Court TombDoolinDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2013WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2013Other eventsNewtown music trail clearing BallyvaughanDr Stephen WardVolunteer
2013Other eventsNewtown music trail clearing BallyvaughanDr Stephen WardVolunteer
2013Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2013Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceFlaggy Shore
2013General TrainingButterfly transect trainingCarronPaula McHale
2013General TrainingTwo day first aid courseRay Murphy
2013General TrainingWildflower identification workshop Drs Sharon Parr and Stephen Ward
2012Landscape managementCoastal clean up Blackhead
2012Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2012Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2012Archaeology5 week excavation at Fanore Shell Midden FanoreMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2012ArchaeologyFilling in Fanore dig (2 days)FanoreMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2012ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2012Archaeology TrainingAtlas trainingCarronDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2012Archaeology TrainingAtlas trainingCarronDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2012Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2012WallingRepairing walls at Blackhead FanoreShane CaseyBiodiversity Officer
2012Walling TrainingWorkshopRory O'ShaughnessyStone Mason
2012Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2012Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceBurren National Park
2012General TrainingButterfly transect trainingCarronDr Bryony Williams
2012General TrainingMapping SkillsCarronPat Cronin
2012General TrainingWeekend Heritage CourseCarron
2011Landscape managementLough Bunny Spring Clean
2011Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2011Habitat managementScrub clearing to control invasive cotoneasterAbbey Hill Shane CaseyBiodiversity Officer
2011ArchaeologyPreparing site for excavation at Caherconnell CaherconnellDr Michelle ComberNUI Galway
2011ArchaeologyKilcorney excavation (5 days)KilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2011ArchaeologySurveying at Fanore FanoreMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2011Monument managementScrub clearing from around Doolin Court TombDoolinDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2011Assisting with local community eventsStewarding for Burren triathlonBallyvaughan
2011General TrainingWeekend Heritage CourseCarron
2010Landscape managementFanore beach clean
2010Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2010Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2010Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2010ArchaeologySettlement surveyingKilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2010WallingRepairing walls at Blackhead FanoreShane CaseyBiodiversity Officer
2010Walling TrainingWorkshopRory O'ShaughnessyStone Mason
2010Assisting with local community eventsAnnual Biodiversity dayKinvara

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The BurrenBeo Trust is an Irish charitable company limited by guarantee. Charity number 16834.
Glebe House, Glebe Road, Kinvara, County Galway, H91 C3X2, Ireland. Email info@burrenbeo.com. Telephone 091 638 096

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