Alan Balfe, Tralee Bay Wetlands, Martha Farrell of Tralee Tidy Towns, Kieran Hawley Tralee Bay Wetlands, Petr Dobes MWP, Brendan O Connor KCC and Sinead Healy MWP.TRALEE Tidy Towns and Kerry County Council are inviting all those interested in Tralee’s River Lee to a free National Heritage Week event.
Funded by the River Basin Management Service, it takes place on Sunday, August 23 at the Tralee Bay Wetlands centre – gathering at 9.50am for a 10am start.
Findings of a survey of invasive species along the river bank in the upper catchment of the River Lee (North of Ballyseedy Woods) – conducted by Malachy Walsh and Partners for Tralee Tidy Towns and funded through the River Basin Management Service’s Community Water Development Fund will be presented.
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Key invasive species, their locations and how to deal with them will be discussed in an hour-long talk for Water Heritage Day.
Tralee Tidy Towns and Kerry County Council invite all those with an interest in protecting this important water body to the event, particularly landowners who may be concerned about the spread of invasive species through the River Lee. All those interested in attending should email tidytownstralee@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
Martha Farrell of Tralee Tidy Towns said: “Thanks to funding from the River Basin Management Service, the survey has pinpointed the exact locations of the invasives along the river. We are now in a position to plan strategic action to control the spread of invasive species; to support the stability and resilience of river banks against flooding and erosion and to support wildlife depending on our native plant species.”
“We hope all those with land adjacent to the River Lee can make this short presentation – they can talk to experts about what to do about invasive species and we hope that, through further collaborative action with all stakeholders including the landowners, we can control if not eradicate the threat of invasive species along the river.”
Blathnaid O’Loughlin, Community Water Officer for Kerry at River Basin Management Service said “Community groups such as Tralee Tidy Towns putting time and energy into getting to know and love their local waterbodies is so important to the future protection and restoration of water quality.”
“The great interest and enthusiasm for nature in all its forms is inspiring in Tralee and the surrounding areas. Invasive species in river catchments cause a multitude of problems including increased erosion and pollution runoff risks and reduction in biodiversity and natural food and shelter sources for both terrestrial and aquatic species. This survey is an important step in helping the river Lee catchment recover for the benefit of humans and nature alike. The River Basin Management Service supports communities to take practical steps to engage with and protect their local waterbodies.”
Brendan O’Connor, Ecologist at Kerry County Council said: “Kerry County Council is delighted to support this event for National Heritage Week. This project is a good example of a community-led project for tackling invasive species in the area. It is also supportive of a key target of the Biodiversity Action Plan.”
